By Deborah Silverthorn

Kindness sparkles, and in the sparkles of Sarina Schick’s newest collection for Designs by Sarina, there is kindness at every shimmer.
The Florence Collection, named for Schick’s mother Florence, of blessed memory, is a deep red garnet stone set in necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings, rich with color, design, respect for its namesake, and honor to its beneficiaries.
Schick donates 10 percent of all sales from the Florence Collection to the Be The Difference Foundation (BTDF) in honor of her mother’s valiant two-year battle against breast cancer and her 17-year fight against ovarian cancer that ended with her passing in 2012. BTDF’s mission is to help women increase their chance of survival of ovarian cancer. To achieve this goal, efforts are focused on raising awareness and money to fund programs for women fighting ovarian cancer today and to provide research dollars for a cure.
“My sharing with Be The Difference Foundation is personal as I’ve seen firsthand what this terrible disease does. This organization is phenomenal and I couldn’t be more proud or honored to help in every way possible,” said Schick, who for a number of years has directed the vendor participation at the annual BTDF Wheel to Survive Race.
“It is a privilege to carry my mother’s legacy by making a donation in her memory, knowing that the research that Be The Difference supports might someday help other women like her, before it’s too late.
“My mom always wore red and she’d love the Florence Collection, and she’d love more that it is helping others,” said Schick, who creates from many crystals and semi-precious stones including labradorite, moonstone, mystic green onyx, set in vermeil, sterling silver, and gold-plate. Her works begin at $25 and are available at all price points.
Schick, who is associated with both Congregation Ohr HaTorah and Shaare Tefilla, is the daughter of the late Florence and Lucien Henochowicz, sister of Michael and Warren, wife of Harry, mother of Aidan and Daniel, stepmother of Yardana, and proud grandmother of Tehilla and Yehuda. She moved to Dallas from Johannesburg, South Africa when she was just 15 years old. After graduating from Berkner High School, Schick moved to Los Angeles to work in her family’s computer store for five years, returning to Dallas in 1993.
In 1995, Schick began a decade-long career working at Neiman Marcus, where she managed the Michael Dawkins line. Long a self-entertaining artist, sketching out her creative mind in pencil and charcoals, Schick eventually joined forces with Ronit Gordon in Saphira Jewelry. When Gordon moved to Florida, Schick forged ahead with Designs by Sarina, selling primarily her own designs, with additional works by other artists.
As the fall season approaches, with many gift-giving and celebrating-in-style opportunities close by, Schick’s schedule is filling with fairs and festivals to share her wares. On Oct. 7, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at her studio, she will host an open house, with Stacey Gaswirth and GeodesbyStacey, to donate 10 percent of all of their collection, the Florence Collection included, to the Be The Difference Foundation. Gaswirth is donating in honor of her friend, Kimberley Pitluk, an ovarian cancer survivor.
At events at Temple Emanu-El (Nov. 15), Levine Academy (Nov. 19 and 20), Southwest Airlines Holiday Bazaar (Nov. 23 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.), and at the Be The Difference Foundation Wheel to Survive Race (Feb. 28, 2016 at the JCC), the Florence Collection will provide proceeds to research toward a cure and awareness and education.
“As an organization, we feel we’ve hit the mark when those who have been affected want to help,” said Julie Shrell, BTDF co-founder.
For Brenda Wright, a recent trip to Designs by Sarina was a mission to build her own assemblage from the Florence Collection. Her daughter Dasha had met Schick at a 2014 holiday fair and purchased a piece. This summer, Wright, now a returning customer, purchased a necklace, the “Melanie” style.
“All of Sarina’s work is so classy, really very delicate and just beautiful,” said Wright. “I’m so excited to wear it and I will definitely be back to buy the earrings.”
Glitter, glamour, and giving for an incredible cause — what more can one hope for, all wrapped up? We hope one day that ovarian cancer, and all cancers, will be as easily wrapped up as the ability Schick provides to share.
Schick’s Designs by Sarina is located at 4100 Spring Valley Road, Suite 631, in North Dallas. In addition to the Oct. 7 open house, meetings at the showroom are available by appointment. For more information, or to make an appointment, call 214-493-1093. For information about Be the Difference Foundation, call 214-466-1561 or visit bethedifferencefoundation.org.