Jeweler Sponsors 'Diamond in the Ruff' to Benefit Mutts Matter

Businesses of all shapes and sizes donate to charity, often giving to large, name-brand organizations with big marketing budgets. Everyone can rally around the fight to cure cancer, help kids in need or support victims of natural disasters, and all of these things are very worthy and important causes.

What’s not as common, however, is to see prominent businesses get behind local dog rescue. Rescue groups like Mutts Matter get most of their corporate sponsorships from companies in the pet industry that understand the importance of rescue and know the hard, sad facts—that five to seven million animals enter the shelter system each year, and over four million don’t make it out.   

As an all-volunteer, nonprofit rescue, Mutts Matter is fortunate to have great relationships in our community, and we rely on their support to fund the transportation, care and feeding of our pups.

One local business, Boone & Sons Jewelers (1025 Connecticut Ave., NW), has a long tradition of giving back and has made dog rescue a priority. We are so excited and honored to be the rescue of choice for Boone & Sons Jewelers, a family-owned and operated business that has been a fixture in the local community since 1966.

Boone & Sons opened their first store on New York Avenue in Washington, DC, almost fifty years ago. They now have three locations in the metro area, all of which are run by members of the Boone family. The company has always been active in charitable work, whether it’s donating to local schools, working with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or donating jewelry to silent auctions for events like the annual Red Cross gala.  

As the next generation of the Boone family takes on leadership roles in the business, they are putting their own stamp on how the company gives back. I met with Amanda, Morgan and Erik Boone, the three children of David Boone. They run the store's Connecticut Avenue location.

The siblings have taken on the initiative to reach out to local charities, and they want to support local organizations that have direct impact on the communities in which they live and work. They made a list of what they were most passionate about, and the consensus was animals.

The entire Boone family is made up of dog lovers, and these three are also fans of the bully breeds. Erik has a boxer, Morgan started fostering dogs in college and has a soft spot for older dogs and pit pups and Amanda has Teddy—an adorable Olde English Bulldogge who also serves as the McLean store mascot.

By supporting a local rescue like Mutts Matter, Boone & Sons is not only thinking outside the box about traditional corporate giving, they are also getting the most impact from their donations. Many large charities spend more than 30 percent of donations on marketing and administrative costs. As an example, both the ASPCA and The Humane Society, two well-meaning and well-known animal charities, put only about 75 percent of donations toward their mission. At Mutts Matter, that number is almost 100 percent.

As a first initiative, is hosting the Diamond in the Ruff charity and dog adoption event this Sunday, Aug. 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its McLean store.

• The business is donating 20 percent of all sales from the event to Mutts Matter Rescue. 
• It is opening the store to some Mutts Matter Rescue pups so you can meet them in person.
• And, the business has generously donated a stunning, $1,250 diamond necklace to be raffled off in support of dog rescue, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to Mutts Matter. (Raffle tickets may be purchased online.)

Click here to learn more about the Diamond in the Ruff event, and come out on Sunday to meet Zen, Clarabelle, Missy, Sir and Camelot. 

Mutts Matter Rescue hopes that more businesses will take Boone & Sons’ lead and work with local dog rescue groups and other small charities to support their community.

Follow Mutts Matter on Facebook to learn more about us and to see new pups coming into the rescue!