The Jewelia Project to benefit HANDS of St. Lucie County

Description

The Jewelia Project began in 2015 as a means of creating awareness for a small non-profit then known as the HANDS Clinic. The clinic provides access to free healthcare to qualified, low-income, uninsured, adult residents of St. Lucie County, Florida. Taken from the pages of a book entitled, The Necklace, the idea to form a group of women to share ownership of a valuable necklace came to fruition after founder Wendy Dwyer approached local jeweler G. Alan Fine Jewelry and Sydney Liebman, Director of Fund Development for the clinic. During its first year, 12 women shared ownership of the necklace and each hosted special events, raising more than $220,000. In its second year, 12 more women are following in the originals' footsteps. The VIM/HANDS Clinic of St. Lucie County provides access to primary, vision, adult dental, and mental health, as well as a continuum of care to those diagnosed with a chronic disease. In addition, the clinic's Pediatric Dental Program provides dental checks and sealants to more than 13,000 children annually.