Chatham has a long history of support for education and gemological research. Chatham’s continuous contributions exceed $1,500,000 of gift and kind.
In 2020, Chatham partnered with One Tree Planted, a non-profit dedicated to global reforestation. Their mission is to reforest the planet, one tree at a time. For every Chatham jewelry product sold to the consumer, Chatham vows to plant a tree.
Chatham cares deeply about the planet and creating a business that gives back to nature. Trees clean our air and water, create habitats for biodiversity, contribute to our health and wellbeing, and create jobs for social impact.
One Tree Planted is a global initiative planting trees across various regions: North America, Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Chatham is focusing on the state of California, it’s birthplace, for restoration. Within the past 5 years, California has faced periods of severe droughts, wildfires and a bark beetle infestation that has caused great damage to its plush forests. Plant species in this region include the Sugar Pine, California Redwood, Maple, Elderberry, Willow, Birch, Dogwood, Cedar, Giant Sequoia, and Walnut.
We’re honored to have reforestation through One Tree Planted as an integral part of our business model.
In the 1950s, our founder Carroll F Chatham was asked by the Smithsonian Institute to grow the largest emerald he could. He spent three years growing a crystal that was more than 2,000 carats, about the size of a baseball, which he donated to the museum’s collection.
Chatham Museum Donations:
One of Chatham’s core values is the continuing education and professionalism of the jewelry industry. We are strong advocates of consumer protection through truth and disclosure. With that stated, we have donated over $500,000 to the Gemological Institute of America, the world’s leading gemological educational institution. Through our support, students have been able to study our crystals and gemstones for clearer identification between lab-grown and naturally mined gemstones. Our support of GIA research has helped to further the frontiers of gemological knowledge. Chatham’s donations have reached the GIA, GIA Alumni Association, and GIA Japan.
Tom Chatham has personally donated his time, providing global lectures on growth of gemstones and diamond for more than 30 years. He has personally given away over 20,000 Chatham crystals to further promote education.
Chatham Professional Association Donations:
Chatham is a constant supporter of higher education. Our goal is to inspire young professionals about the opportunity of the jewelry industry as a profession. Chatham has annually sponsored the Gem Grab Bag auction at the University of Maryland, which funds student grants. This initiative, which benefits the Maryland Parents Association Student Scholarship Fund, helps students who are faced with financial hardship and at risk of not being able to complete their education. So far we’ve been able to grant Chatham scholarships to more than 30 students.
Chatham University Donations:
Chatham Research Laboratories has been an ongoing member of the American Crystal Growth Association. To further research in the development of ruby lasers and computers, Chatham donated many crystals in the 1950’s & 60’s to the Association. This resulted in our emeralds being sent to the planet Mars within the Rover dune buggy helping to analyze the geology of the red planet.
Chatham Scientific and Charitable Donations: