Thrift Store Chain to Auction 'Mystery' Diamond Rings on eBay to Benefit Local Non-profit and Romantics Worldwide

Thrift Store Chain to Auction 'Mystery' Diamond Rings on eBay to Benefit Local Non-profit and Romantics Worldwide

$25,000 in Unclaimed Gems Donated to Value Village Now For Sale

SEATTLE, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Does love really know no limits? Just in time for Valentine's Day, one of the most popular days of the year for marriage proposals, potential beaus can put their love -- and charity -- on the auction block.

Seattle-based Savers, Inc., owner of the international chain of Savers and Value Village thrift stores, today will auction two diamond rings, valued at $25,500 (USD), through a 7-day auction on eBay. The rings were originally discovered last February by an employee in a Vancouver, Canada-area Value Village store while sorting through donated goods. Savers, Inc., owner of the international chain of Savers and Value Village thrift stores, has been working with authorities to identify and return the inscribed pair of diamond-encrusted gold rings to the rightful owner for the past year, but to no avail. Bidding for each ring will start low, at $9.99 with fifty percent of the proceeds from the eBay auction going to charity.

"Working in conjunction with local police, we've tried very hard to determine the origin of these rings," said Stan Siudy, Savers, Inc. regional manager. "It's an interesting situation as there must be great sentimental value attached to them. But, after more than a year, we're excited to get the auction underway and share a portion of the proceeds with our local non-profit partner."

The rings were hidden in the pocket of a woman's black handbag being processed as a donated item through the Canadian Diabetes Association, one of more than 120 charities that receives funding from Savers and Value Village stores in exchange for donated goods. Fifty percent of profits from the eBay auction will go to the Canadian Diabetes Association ( http://www.diabetes.ca/ ).

The auction provides a unique shopping opportunity as the Valentine's Day holiday quickly approaches: by purchasing these mysterious rings for a special loved one, the recipient will simultaneously contribute to the Canadian Diabetes Association, which works to prevent diabetes and improve the quality of life for those affected, through research, education, service and advocacy.

"We work closely with Savers and Value Village staff in a situation like this to find the owners; sometimes we're not successful," said Glenn Manderson, vice president, Canadian Diabetes Association. "We'll put the proceeds of this sale to good use in the fight against diabetes."

According to the Diamond Information Center, on behalf of the Diamond Trading Company, 10 percent of the reported 2.3 million couples who get engaged annually do so on Valentine's Day -- making it one of the two most popular times of the year for engagements.

To learn more about the rings, view photos, or place a bid, visit www.savers.com and click on the "Auction" link. Final bids will be assessed on February 13th.

About Savers, Inc.

Savers, Inc. operates 200 Savers, Value Village and Village des Valeurs stores. Savers, Inc. stores employ more than 7,000 people in 23 states, 10 Canadian provinces and Australia. Visit www.savers.com for more information, including a list of store locations.


Source: Savers, Inc.

CONTACT: Vanessa Whorley of Edelman, +1-206-223-1606, or
vanessa.whorley@edelman.com, for Savers, Inc.; or Gina Cohen of Savers, Inc.,
+1-425-450-2359, or gcohen@savers.com

Web site: http://www.diabetes.ca/

Web site: http://www.savers.com/


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