June 30, 2016
Cory Schifter of Casale Jewelers has created a Muhammad Ali line of inspiring jewelry and will donate part of the proceeds to the Parkinson's Foundation
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.
"Don't count the days; make the days count."
"I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.'"
"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth."
These are just three quotes from the late, great champion boxer, Muhammad Ali, who passed away earlier this month.
To honor the sports legend, community activist and businessman Cory Schifter of Casale Jewelers in Dongan Hills has created a Muhammad Ali jewelry line, and will be donating part of the proceeds to the Parkinson's Foundation.
Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1984 at the age of 42, and is one of the most high-profile people who battled the condition. His brain injury is believed to have caused by repeated blows to the head.
The Schifter family has been in the retail jewelry business for 30 years. The custom design business, managed by his brother Daniel Schifter, has been in business for over 20 years and are in over 3,000 jewelry stores worldwide.
When designing the Muhammad Ali line, the brothers had the best of both worlds since Daniel handles the manufacturing and Cory is in charge of the retail end.
The Schifters have had the license to sell the Muhammad Ali pieces since late 2015.
"We had our launch to jewelers in Las Vegas on June 2nd, coincidentally one day before Ali passed," Cory explained. "We were sitting at dinner discussing the launch party Friday night when we received the announcement on our phone.
"We had a launch party planned for Saturday. It turned more into a tribute to the legend." In attendance were boxing champions Zab Judah, Vinny "Pazmanian Devil" Paz and Mia St. John.
According to Schifter, Muhammad Ali was an inspiration to many in that he never wavered on his beliefs regardless of the consequence. "He was a fighter just like we all are," he said, "And a great businessman that sold out fights and made a name for himself that nobody will forget.
"Ali is the single most iconic athlete in the history of United States of America," he said, "So having opportunity to capture his spirit and whathe stood was something we couldn't pass up. He was also very big into the community and helping others which is how we do business as well, which makes it personal for us."
Sales have been brisk, with customers ordering pieces as graduation and special-occasion gifts for friends and family, as well as to commemorate the essence of the boxing great. Popular items are the pendents and cuff links.
According to Cory, the items with Ali's quotes are selling best: "Live Your Life As a Champion," "A Man with No Imagination Has No Wings," for example.
Cory Schifter has been a staple at countless Staten Island charities, known for his generosity, and readily donating his time and jewelry, totaling in the hundreds of thousands to worthy fundraisers and was recently named a Paul Harris Fellow, the highest honor bestowed by Rotary International.
For more information, contact Cory at 718-351-8300. Casale Jewelers is located at 1639 Richmond Road in Dongan Hills or visit TwentyThree9.com.
http://blog.silive.com/gracelyns_chronicles/2016/06/jewelers_earmark_muhammad_ali.html
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