Anthony’s Jewelers Gives Back

Anthony’s Jewelers Gives Back in a BIG Way

By Mark Berger

e Manzo Brothers, Anthony and Je rey, have transformed the Anthony’s Jewelers business into a North Providence institution. Along the way, they not only have provided their customers with the nest collection of wedding rings, engagement rings, watches, and other great gift ideas, they have also been a devoted community partner. By giving back to individuals, local youth groups, and being year-round ‘Santa Clauses,’ the brothers have a solid reputation of giving back to the community, a community that has welcomed them with open and waiting arms.

e list of organizations and people they have helped over the last four decades is as long as the famed Rte. 66 Highway. at is because Anthony and Je rey have generous hearts and want people to remember them for their continued outreach and good deeds.

Anthony said that it’s part of “ e Anthony’s Jewelers Way” of conducting themselves in the most professional and gracious manner possible. Being in business for this long is a tribute to their way of accomplishing what they have created. However, Anthony noted their mantra is more than simply a slogan.

“Je and I feel like we have been blessed,” Anthony said, while taking time recently to re ect on the sheer volume of people the pair have helped over the years. “We have been blessed in the business, we have been blessed by our customers, we have been blessed by the community, and we have been blessed by the ongoing support of our customers.”

People around the state have seen their slogans over the years. eir latest, “Anthony’s Jewelers: Where Rhode Island Gets Engaged,” has been making the rounds. ey also renovated their location at 1525 Mineral Spring Avenue, with new

oors, lighting—including chandeliers—and an entrance complete with a red carpet and red velvet ropes! eir vibe is to make everyone who visits the store feel special— because they are going through a happy period in their lives.

Some people may remember their other iconic slogans they used over the years. How many readers remember: “When you think diamonds, think Anthony’s Jewelers,” or, “When you think of Anthony’s Jewelers, think diamonds,” and “Anthony’s Jewelers will rock your world?” No matter whether you recall any of these slogans, the fact they have been doing this for so long gives them plenty of stories to tell.

ey certainly have impacted so many people with their generosity. Among the many acts of kindness include: handing out $50 gas cards, buying co ee at a local shop for all of the shop’s customers, paid for heat for people in need, gave a $10,000 check to a man who battled cancer, and paid for year-round landscaping for ve local families (that encompassed seeding, cleaning, and maintenance).

One would think there have been some special requests along the way. More than a few kids were taken aback with joyful surprises when their wishes were granted. at is because Anthony and Je rey were there to provide them with happy smiles and memories.

Anthony recalled a time when a family came into the store. He noticed their eight-year-old daughter was crying. When asked what was wrong, she said her horse had passed away. A traumatic event for anyone, but for a child, news like that can be devastating. Anthony asked her parents if he could help. ey told him of the Scituate stable where the horse had stayed. From there, Anthony went to work.

“I went to the stable and asked the owner if he had any horses for sale. He had three or four of them available. I selected one of them, contacted the family, and showed them their new horse. e girl nally stopped crying,” he said with a smile.

eir generosity didn’t stop at four-legged animals. Anthony also met a family at an event at Roger Williams Park Casino in Providence. ere were about a thousand people there, but one such family stood out to him for needing support, and he recognized it almost immediately.

Turns out, the child asked Santa for a parakeet for Christmas. Sadly, the child was disappointed when he didn’t receive one that morning. Undaunted, Anthony hired someone to dress up as Santa and personally give the child a parakeet for the occasion.

While the child was extremely happy, Anthony said not everyone was so overjoyed. “After the parakeet was delivered, I received a call from the person who was my Santa. He said after hu ng and pu ng up three ights of steps, he was not going to do that again. It must have been some sight seeing someone dressed up as Santa Claus walking up stairs instead of coming down a chimney to deliver presents.”

Despite that small issue, it all comes down to one universal truth that Anthony and Je believe, which is to make the season—or any time of the year—memorable.

“ e guy who has the most fun is the giver,” Anthony said. “When you give to someone, you get more than the person receiving.”

at extends to more than one-o acts of kindness. He noted that once you give a bonus to employees, for example, you have to do it every year—even if it comes out of your own pocket. He rationalizes the reason for doing so: “ ey are relying on that money,” he said.

He learned of a woman whose husband lost his job and they were struggling nancially. Anthony responded by giving her $200 for the holidays to help out. He continues giving that amount to her annually—and has been doing so for 22 years and counting.

ey nd people on social media networks who either post needing help or know someone who needs a hand. Other people will walk in with a story telling of their hardships. When the brothers hear of someone or a family in peril, they go the extra couple of miles to help. While the generous donations are made, Anthony said there is one requirement that must be met in order to be considered.

“ e person must show that there is a need,” he said.

eManzoBrothers are nostrangerstocommunity support, as well as giving to individuals. ey are members and contribute to numerous causes around the area. Locally, they participate in the Meeting Street School, the North Providence Softball League, the Rhode Island CYO Boys and Girls Basketball League, and CYO eater Program.

In addition to personal and local charities, they give to the Wounded Warriors’ Project, the American Heart Association,AmericanCancerSociety,American Lung Association, e Jimmy Fund, e Dana Farber Institute, St. Jude’s, the American Indian Association, and e Joseph P. MacDonald, Esq., Charity. ey have actually gone into supermarkets and paid for customers’ groceries. Many of those people have quizzical looks, wondering what was happening. So many other people, groups, and organizations have been the bene ciaries of the Manzos.

Perhaps their favorite charity is Teen Challenge, an organization dedicated toward helping teenage girls involved in crisis situations. e Manzos have donated dinners, clothing, and movie tickets to help in their recovery.

One other thing about being a giver is having the ability to make other people believe in the dream. at actually happened once in his own family, according to Manzo.

His then-10-year-old daughter told him she didn’t believe Santa Claus existed. ere was a contest sponsored by COX and Providence Journal where people wrote in saying whether or not they believed

and why. Manzo said he brought home a bushel of entries to show to his daughter that people young and young-at-heart understood the power of Santa Claus.

One of those letters came from a woman who described her situation as dire: she broke her leg, her husband was out of work, and they could not shop for the holiday. Anthony took the note and sent $200 to her.

“Her name is Betty Smith, and I have been sending her that amount for the last 22 years,” he said. “She came into the store to personally thank me for the donation. I hadn’t met her prior to that. at is what the holidays and the ‘Spirit of Giving’ means.”

Other ways they continue giving are ongoing. e brothers once purchased a fully-equipped vehicle for someone living with a disability. ey have also taken people on all-expense paid crises, including hotel and airfare, paid for several kids’ college tuitions for families in need, they have also funded weddings, helped with down payments for homes, and trips as far away as to Mexico have also been paid for by the Manzos.

ere is no end in sight in the generous giving of Anthony and Je rey. It is something they have been doing for so long and have no plans on stopping now. ey plan to ring in 2023, the same way they ended the previous year: by helping others and providing people with the backdrop toward experiencing their own happiness by stopping by their location and being showered with their family appeal.

Manzo leaves the readers with one nal thought as the holiday season has come to a close.

“ is Christmas and throughout the year, let’s all think about giving to someone in need. at’s the Anthony’s Jewelers Way!”