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CT Jeweler Encourages Residents to “B Strong” in the Fight Against Breast Cancer
Baribault Jewelers Hosts Monthlong Campaign for Two Statewide Charities in October
Baribault Jewelers is reminding breast cancer fighters, survivors, and supporters to “B Strong” in their battle with the disease that affects 326.7 million people in the United States. Specifically, the third generation, family-owned jewelry company is hosting a monthlong campaign in its Glastonbury store and online that benefits both the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative (CTBHI) and Breast Friends Fund (BFF), two local charities in which every dollar raised directly assists people diagnosed with the disease.
“Nearly every person in America has been affected on a personal level by breast cancer,” said Christina Baribault-Ortiz, co-owner of Baribault Jewelers. “This cause is very near and dear to our heart, this is the ideal time to up the ante and raise as much money as possible to hopefully and finally find a cure!”Baribault-Ortiz explains that the company will host two Think Pink Fundraising Nights in October during which 20% of the proceeds will be donated to local breast cancer charities. The first on Thursday, October 19th from 5 to 7 p.m. will benefit the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative and inventory sold on Thursday, October 26th from 5 to 7 p.m. will benefit Breast Friends Fund. Additionally, the company is offering an exclusive “B Strong” bracelet in its popular The Power to B.com collection in which 20% of proceeds raised throughout the entire month of October will support the Breast Friends Fund.
“As a family which has been in business for 75 years, we always heed the call of customers, friends and neighbors in need,” adds Raeann Baribault-Schwartz, co-owner of Baribault Jewelers. “We are happy and grateful to use the power of this line to shine a spotlight on the urgency to find treatments and a cure for breast cancer.”
Baribault-Schwartz explains that it was BFF’s Founder Sandy Cassanelli, a metastatic-or stage 4 breast cancer survivor for the past eight years, who was the inspiration for the jeweler to create the “B Strong” bracelet.
“We stand by and support Sandy’s commitment to find a cure for metastatic breast cancer and wholeheartedly admire her constant, positive spirit and unwavering determination to raise awareness for this particular type of breast cancer,” said Baribault-Ortiz.
The Power to B bracelets encourage its wearers to B Strong, B Fierce, B Badass, B Limitless, B Fearless, B Grateful, Be Blessed, B Brave, B Present, B Kind and B You by linking the cursive phrases with a black cord or chain. The bracelets, which retail at an affordable $88 are available at Baribault Jewelers’ store located at 81 Rankin Road in Glastonbury, online at The Power to B website and at Water Street Jewelers in Guilford and Madison, CT.
For more information, visit www.baribaultjewelers.com or www.thepowertob.com.
About Baribault Jewelers
Since 1948, Baribault Jewelers has been guided by its core values of authenticity, integrity, service, gratitude, courage, trust and respect in providing sterling service to its local, statewide and national clientele. While styles come and go, the mission of the family business has always been to help its valued customers create beautiful memories with the people they love. Visit www.baribaultjewelers.com.
About the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative
The Connecticut Breast Health Initiative, Inc. is a statewide non-profit organization making a significant impact in the quest to find a cure for breast cancer by providing grants to support education and research in Connecticut. Founded in 2004, the group’s underlying goal is to find answers with 100% of the money raised
remaining in Connecticut. To date, CT BHI has awarded $4.3 million in 107 grants to fund important breast cancer research and education projects in Connecticut. Each year, it strives to surpass this milestone with the help of its supporters, sponsors, and fundraising efforts. 
About Breast Friends Fund
Sandy Cassarelli, a metastatic breast cancer survivor, created Breast Friends Fund (BFF) in 2016 as a fundraising initiative for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute with a goal of finding a cure for the Stage 4 disease. All donated funds are earmarked “restricted” for Dr. Eric Winer, an internationally renowned metastatic breast cancer researcher, who is currently serving as Director of Yale Cancer Center and Physician-in-Chief of Smilow Cancer Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut. Year to date BFF has raised over to $1,000,000 and growing each day. To ensure that a cure is found, BFF is volunteer-run, and operating costs are personally funded by Craig & Sandy Cassanelli. Sandy and her family feel a sense of urgency when it comes to supporting Dr. Winer and his team in their effort to find treatments and a cure for breast cancer for the future of our daughters, sisters, nieces, mothers, aunts, and friends. Visit www.breastfriendsfund.org for more information.
PHOTO: Baribault Jewelers is hosting a monthlong campaign at its Glastonbury store and online that benefits both the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative (CTBHI) and Breast Friends Fund (BFF), two local charities in which every dollar raised directly assists people diagnosed with the disease. The family-owned jewelry company is also donating 20% of the proceeds from its “B Strong” cord or chain bracelet to the Breast Friends Fund throughout October.
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CT Jeweler Hosts Month-Long “Breast Friends Fund-raiser” for Customer Survivor
According to the American Cancer Society, about 287,850 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women across the United States this year and 25% of them will have metastatic or stage 4 breast cancer. One woman who has chosen to look at her disease not as a burden, but as a way to help others is Glastonbury resident Sandy Cassanelli, who founded Breast Friends Fund (BFF), a non-profit organization dedicated to research and treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Now, Cassanelli charity is getting a boost from her BFF retailer – Baribault Jewelers and its premier The Power to B bracelet collection. Specifically, the family-owned business is hosting a Charity Shopping Event on Thursday, October 13, 2022, as well as offering a limited-edition The Power to B pink and silver bracelet throughout October National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in which BFF will receive 20% of the proceeds from both jewelry programs.
“As a long-time customer, friend and neighbor, we support and applaud Sandy’s commitment to find a cure for metastatic breast cancer,” said Christina Baribault Ortiz, co-founder of The Power to B. “In fact, her positive spirit and unwavering determination to raise awareness for this type of breast cancer was our inspiration in creating the ‘B Strong’ power word for The Power to B collection.”
The Power to B bracelets encourage its wearers to B Strong, B Fierce, B Badass, B Limitless or B Fearless by linking the cursive phrases with a colorful cord or chain. The commemorative BFF bracelet is pink and silver, the signature colors of breast cancer awareness. The bracelet, which retails at an affordable $68 is available starting October 1, 2022 until inventory lasts at Baribault Jewelers’ store located at 81 Rankin Road in Glastonbury and on The Power to B website and at Water Street Jewelers in Guilford and Madison, CT
Besides the month-long bracelet campaign, Baribault Jewelers is also hosting a Charity Shopping Event on Thursday, October 13, 2022 from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. in which 20% of the proceeds from all jewelry purchases in the store and online will be donated to BFF.
“As one of my favorite shopping destinations, I am honored that Baribault Jewelers has made Breast Friends Fund the beneficiary of this powerful two-pronged initiative,” said Sandy Cassanelli, founder and president of Breast Friends Fund. “There’s a lot of competition among breast cancer charities this time of the year and we distinguish ourselves by earmarking every dollar to breast cancer research to produce a cure.”
Cassanelli further notes that 100% of monies raised through her volunteer-run non-profit are directed to Dr. Eric Winer, one of the foremost researchers on metastatic breast cancer in the country, who is leading a team of researchers at Yale New Haven Health’s Smilow Cancer Hospital. Besides serving as Director of the Yale Cancer Center, Dr. Winer is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and President-Elect of the American Society of Clinical Oncology(ASCO).
“As a family who has been in business for nearly 75 years, we always heed the call to help relatives and friends in need,” adds Raeann Baribault Schwartz, co-founder of The Power to B. “We consider Sandy our surrogate sister and hope that our charitable collaboration shines a spotlight on the urgency to find treatments and a cure for breast cancer. After all, it’s not just Sandy and her family who need a miracle – the entire world needs it.”
About The Power to B
Created by sisters and designers Christina Baribault Ortiz and Raeann Baribault Schwartz in 2019, The Power to B fine jewelry collection aims to bring women together in joyful empowerment. The stunning 14k gold- or gold-plated phrase bracelets, necklaces and rings remind women to B Strong, B Fierce, B Badass, B Limitless or B Fearless. The Power to B is about being fearless enough to speak your dreams into the world and being strong enough to turn them into reality. Learn more at thepowertob.com.
About Breast Friends Fund
Sandy Cassarelli, a metastatic breast cancer survivor, created Breast Friends Fund (BFF) in 2016 as a fundraising initiative for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute with a goal of finding a cure for the Stage 4 disease. All donated funds are earmarked “restricted” for Dr. Eric Winer, an internationally renowned metastatic breast cancer researcher, who is currently serving as Director of Yale Cancer Center and Physician-in-Chief of Smilow Cancer Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut. As of 2022 BFF has raised close to $900,000 and growing each day. To ensure that a cure is found, BFF is volunteer-run, and operating costs are personally funded by Craig & Sandy Cassanelli. Sandy and her family feel a sense of urgency when it comes to supporting Dr. Winer and his team in their effort to find treatments and a cure for breast cancer for the future of our daughters, sisters, nieces, mothers, aunts, and friends. Visit www.breastfriendsfund.org for more information.
Baribault Jewelers and The Power to B collection is donating 20% of the proceeds from every purchase of its limited-edition, inspirational, bracelet to the Breast Friends Fund non-profit organization during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October to raise funds for metastatic breast cancer research and treatment. The charitable bracelet is custom designed with a silver power word on a pink cord to give hope and strength to the wearer.
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Charity Bracelet 100% Supports Robb Elementary Memorial Fund
The devastating loss of innocent lives in the recent Texas school shooting has left many of us wanting to help but feeling helpless. In an emotional and heartfelt video, sisters Christina Baribault Ortiz and Raeann Baribault Schwartz of Connecticut shared their feelings of grief, as well as a way to financially support those affected. The founders of The Power to B jewelry collection announced that they have created a custom-designed bracelet to benefit the children and families at Robb Elementary School. The memorial fund will receive 100% of the proceeds from every purchase of the limited-edition bracelet featuring the school’s colors.
The statement on the company’s website reads “On May 24, 19 students and 2 adults were killed in a school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. In support of the victims and survivors of this tragedy, we’re donating 100% of the proceeds from our maroon and gold power word cord bracelets to The Robb School Memorial Fund. Join us in showing support for Robb Elementary School by wearing their school colors with these limited-edition power word bracelets.”
“The money raised will be used for their back-to-school program which includes counseling that the children will need to try to get back to ‘normal’, although life will never be normal again,” said Baribault Ortiz, who co-founded The Power to B jewelry line with her sister after both struggled with infertility.
The pair is committed to philanthropy and has designed several unique and original bracelets to benefit various charities. Previous bracelet campaigns have supported The Hope of Fertility Foundation, the Glastonbury Education Foundation and the UCONN Foundation.
Ortiz explains The Power to B bracelets encourage everyone to B Strong, B Fierce, B Badass, B Limitless, B Fearless, or B You by linking the cursive phrases with a colorful cord or chain. The commemorative Robb School Elementary bracelet features a power word in yellow gold on a maroon cord in order to give hope and strength to the wearer. The bracelet will be available for purchase for $68 on the website while supplies last.
Baribault Ortiz is the mother of two (Scarlet & Kash, 9 and 7 years old) and Baribault Schwartz is mom to three (Eva, Zane & Raven, 5, 3, and 1 years old).
“As a mom with young children in school, I just keep thinking of the fear every day,” adds Baribault Schwartz. “I wear my “fearless” bracelet to try to fear a little less.”
The third-generation jewelers created the bracelets featuring powerful phrases to remind women of all ages that they are not alone. The jewelry line has forged a strong community of thousands of female customers who wear the bracelets, rings, necklaces to bolster their inner strength and resilience.
“There is power in doing things together,” said Baribault Ortiz. “We can’t take the pain away, but we hope to make just a small difference.”
To view the sisters’ poignant video message, click here; https://youtu.be/gb2xE1QCpZE
About The Power to B
Created by sisters and designers Christina Baribault Ortiz and Raeann Baribault Schwartz in 2019, The Power to B fine jewelry collection aims to bring women together in joyful empowerment. The stunning 14k gold- or gold-plated phrase bracelets, necklaces and rings remind women to B Strong, B Fierce, B Badass, B Limitless, B Fearless, or B You. The Power to B is about being fearless enough to speak your dreams into the world and being strong enough to turn them into reality. Learn more at thepowertob.com.
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Which power word speaks to you? Mine is Fearless!
Life gets scary, especially for risk takers and those willing to put themselves on the line for what they love. This girl has felt fear and she’s never let it hold her back. She is determined, steady, and ready to grow through what comes her way.
B Fearless is the missing link in The Power to B collection when nothing else seems to fit.
If she’s not quite sure what she needs, but she knows she’s on the brink of something great, B Fearless is the power word for her. Fear tends to be the thing holding us back from the next big step or a chance to better ourselves. It holds all of the other power words within it, and prepares her to move forward as her best self. Even if you fail, get back up and keep going. Shift your mindset to think of the times you’ve stumbled as learning experiences, not failures. Like a maze in the dark, sometimes you’ll miss. Stay calm and focus, you must B fearless.
The Power to B is so much more than a piece of jewelry. It’s a reminder practice that began after finding strength in positive affirmations during a very challenging time in our lives. Together, the founder sisters Raeann and Chrissy faced 6 years of fertility struggles. During this time, they were on an emotional rollercoaster. There were days they felt ashamed, fearful, weak & hopeless…
Raeann and Chrissy never dreamed that the darkest days would lead to the brightest days ahead. They knew that this practice and jewelry could help so many more women. So, they listened to hundreds of women’s challenges and found the words that inspired them most. Raeann and Chrissy turned the most popular words into the core collection of Power Word Bracelets; STRONG, FIERCE, FEARLESS, LIMITLESS & BADASS. There were women facing challenges in school, relationships, cancer, financial debt, divorce, fertility, becoming new moms, grieving loss and so much more, all finding strength in wearing their Power Word.
Words are Powerful. Please believe with great challenge, comes strength. Whatever you’re going through, The Power to B GOT YOU. Positive energy & POWER WORD Jewelry! Created by sisters and designers Christina Baribault Ortiz and Raeann Baribault Schwartz in 2019, The Power to B fine jewelry collection aims to bring women together in joyful empowerment. The stunning 14k gold- or gold-plated phrase bracelets, necklaces and rings remind women to B Strong, B Fierce, B Badass, B Limitless or B Fearless. The Power to B is about being fearless enough to speak your dreams into the world and being strong enough to turn them into reality. Learn more at thepowertob.com.
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EXCLUSIVE “THE POWER TO B” DESIGN PERFECT GIFT FOR MOTHER’S DAY
One in eight couples in the U.S. struggles with some form of infertility. The biggest roadblock for most of them to begin fertility treatments is money. To ease that financial burden, the founders of The Power to B inspirational, fine-jewelry collection have designed a custom bracelet to benefit The Hope for Fertility Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bridging the gap between infertility and fertility. Specifically, the charity will receive 20% of the proceeds from every purchase of the limited-edition Hope for Fertility bracelet during National Infertility Awareness Month in April and through the end of May to capitalize on Mother’s Day gift giving.
“As women who overcame our own fertility issues to become mothers, it is our privilege to remove one of the barriers for other couples who dream of starting a family,” said Christina Baribault Ortiz, who created The Power to B bracelets featuring powerful phrases with her sister Raeann Baribault Schwartz. “This collaboration beautifully combines our passion for fashion with our commitment to philanthropy.”
Christina explains The Power to B bracelets encourage everyone to B Strong, B Fierce, B Badass, B Limitless or B Fearless by linking the cursive phrases with a colorful cord or chain. The commemorative Hope of Fertility bracelet will be blue and gold, the signature colors of the organization to represent both tranquility and power. The bracelet, which retails for $68, will be officially unveiled at the Pre-Oscar Gifting Party in Hollywood on March 25th and 26th and available to the public starting April 1, 2022 on The Power to B website.
“We are honored to be the beneficiary of this Power to B initiative,” said Angela Williams, president of The Hope for Fertility Foundation. “On average, one round of IVF costs $12,000 to $15,000, and most insurance companies do not cover treatment. All the members of the Hope for Fertility board understand firsthand how infertility can result in large amounts of debt, depression, and despair. Because of this, we want to offer help to as many couples as possible.”
In 2016, Chase and Tedi Palmer started the nonprofit organization with a mission to raise infertility awareness, provide financial support for couples, and most importantly, bring hope back into the lives of couples who feel that there is none.
Tedi shares that the foundation’s name is based on two key words: “hope”, because having a family is a very real possibility and that couples aren’t alone in the process and second, “fertility”, to focus on the positive, not dwell on IN-fertility, since that word is associated with heartache, struggle, and longing.
“We selected The Hope for Fertility Foundation for our first charitable partnership because both of our organizations are based on the power of a positive mantra versus a negative one,” adds Raeann, the strategic powerhouse that brought The Power to B brand to life. “We want words to be empowering instead of harmful.”
Christina is now the mother of two (Scarlet & Kash, 9 and 7 years old) and Raeann is mom to three (Eva, Zane & Raven, 5, 3, and 1 years old). Each struggled with infertility issues that lasted six years combined before being able to conceive. What got them through the darkest time of their lives was their love for each other, as well as visual messages of positivity that they would place around their homes. This inspired the third-generation jewelers to create stunning bracelets featuring powerful phrases to remind women of all ages that they are not alone.
Since launching the styles in 2019, the jewelry line has forged a strong sisterhood of thousands of female customers who wear the bracelets, rings, necklaces to bolster their inner strength and resilience.
The full Power to B collection can be purchased online at www.ThePowertoB.com or in-store at Baribault Jewelers at 81 Rankin Road in Glastonbury, Conn. Additionally, the line is available at both Water Street Jewelers locations at 769 Boston Post Road in Madison, Conn. and 61 Whitfield Street in Guilford, Conn.
About The Power to B
Created by sisters and designers Christina Baribault Ortiz and Raeann Baribault Schwartz in 2019, The Power to B fine jewelry collection aims to bring women together in joyful empowerment. The stunning 14k gold- or gold-plated phrase bracelets, necklaces and rings remind women to B Strong, B Fierce, B Badass, B Limitless or B Fearless. The Power to B is about being fearless enough to speak your dreams into the world and being strong enough to turn them into reality. Learn more at thepowertob.com.
About The Hope for Fertility Foundation
Founded in 2016, our mission is to provide hope to couples struggling in their journey to create or expand their families, by helping them tell their story, by spreading infertility awareness, and providing financial assistance through grants and fundraisers. We are a 501(c)3 that relies fully on donations for the sole purpose of helping couples with infertility and to make a positive impact in the community. Visit hopeforfertility.org for more information.
The Power to B fine-jewelry company is donating 20% of the proceeds from every purchase of its limited-edition, inspirational, bracelet to the nonprofit Hope for Fertility Foundation during National Infertility Awareness Month in April and through the end of May to provide financial assistance to couples seeking fertility treatment. The charitable bracelet is custom designed with a yellow gold power word on a blue cord to give hope and strength to the wearer.
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The Power to B Bracelet is Big Winner at Academy Awards
The creators of The Power to B bracelets got their big break at the recent Academy Awards after celebrities enthusiastically embraced the inspirational designs at a pre-Oscar event. Based on the popularity of the jewelry collection, The Power to B will now be permanently featured at the exclusive GBK Brand Bar boutique in West Hollywood. Additionally, the sisters who launched the empowering jewelry line after their personal struggles with fertility are donating 20% of sales during April National Infertility Month to the Hope for Fertility Foundation.
The Power to B stole the show at a pre-Oscar event as top celebrities enthusiastically received the line of inspirational bracelets. Based on the buzz about the new jewelry collection, The Power to B will now be featured at an exclusive gift shop in Hollywood.
“We certainly feel like we got our big break as our designs were so well received by both men and women,” says Christina Baribault Ortiz, co-founder of The Power to B. “It was an unforgettable opportunity to personally interact with all of the gracious celebrities and to see their excitement about wearing our bracelets.”
Among Hollywood A-listers like Viola Davis, Anthony Anderson and Jason Ritter, Christina and her sister and partner Raeann Baribault Schwartz particularly bonded with Terrence Terrell, the actor who plays Eli Russell on the CBS series “B Positive”. The pair is hoping to partner with him for some creative product positioning on an upcoming episode.
The siblings from Connecticut debuted The Power to B at the GBK Brand Bar on March 25 and March 26. The invitation-only gift boutique for celebrities, influencers and VIPs was held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel where many of the Academy Award nominees and attendees stay.
As a result of the overwhelming response, GBK has selected The Power to B bracelets for a permanent spot at its high-end, bespoke general and gift store located at the Kimpton La Peer Hotel in the heart of West Hollywood. The Power to B joins the carefully curated selection of products described as the perfect place to find a gift for those who have everything.
“For a first time exhibitor at our show, The Power to B generated a lot of excitement among the top talent walking through our space,” said Gavin Keilly, President of GBK Brand Bar. “We look forward to having the jewelry company back next year.”
The emotional highlight of the event for both sisters was hearing attendee and actress Ashley Greene’s announcement that she is expecting her first child with husband Paul Khoury. The actress, best known for her role as Alice Cullen in the Twilight movies, shared the happy news on the first day of the gifting bar. “Since The Power to B designs were born out of our six-year combined struggle to conceive, it was so moving to witness her joy in person,” says The Power to B Co-Founder Raeann Baribault-Schwartz.
She explains how the pair found the fortitude to overcome many fertility obstacles by displaying visual messages of positivity throughout their homes. This inspired the third-generation jewelers to create stunning wearable words of encouragement to empower women of all ages to tap into their inner strength and courage. The collection emboldens everyone to B Strong, B Fierce, B Badass, B Limitless or B Fearless.
The bracelet design links cursive phrases with either a colorful bolo cord or a delicate chain held by a lobster claw clasp accented with a black gemstone known for positive energy.
Prices are $68 for a cord bracelet, $78 for a silver, rose-gold plated or yellow-
gold plated bracelet and $98 in a necklace. The Lux collection offers necklaces, rings and bracelets in 14k white or yellow-gold with diamonds starting at $495-695. Several exclusive items that debuted at the Academy Awards event are now available for purchase. “Every aspect of participating in this event exceeded our expectations,” adds Christina. “We are thrilled to have our designs catapulted to prominence from coast to coast.”
Currently, The Power to B collection can be purchased online at www.ThePowertoB.com or in-store at Baribault Jewelers at 81 Rankin Road in Glastonbury, Connecticut. The line is also available at Water Street Jewelers locations at 769 Boston Post Road in Madison, Connecticut and 61 Whitfield Street in Guilford, Connecticut.
About The Power to B
Created by sisters and designers Christina Baribault Ortiz and Raeann Baribault Schwartz in 2019, The Power to B fine jewelry collection aims to bring women together in joyful empowerment. The stunning 14k gold- or gold-plated phrase bracelets, necklaces and rings remind women to B Strong, B Fierce, B Badass, B Limitless, B Fearless, or B You. The Power to B is about being fearless enough to speak your dreams into the world and being strong enough to turn them into reality. Learn more at thepowertob.com.
