Imani students succeed with
support of Henne Jewelers

By Vanessa Orr

Almost 120 years ago, Rudolph Joseph Henne opened Henne Jewelers in East Liberty as a place where railroad workers could go to have their watches repaired and regulated. Over the years, the staff at Henne Jewelers earned a reputation for providing a superior level of service, and for establishing long-term relationships with customers and their families. Now owned by a fourth generation of the Henne family, Henne Jewelers continues to nurture these strong ties to the community.

“We’ve been around so long that we’ve established strong relationships with our customers—just like our theme line says, we are their jewelers for life,” explained John Henne. John is the co-owner of the store with his sister, Meg Henne Gibson who lives in Cranberry.

Henne continued, “We have a lot of repeat business, including multiple generations of the same family. I have people come in who say that my great-grandfather sold their grandfather his engagement ring.”

A lot of Henne’s business is in traditional jewelry, including engagement rings, fashion jewelry, pieces for special occasions and watches. Henne Jewelers also has an estate jewelry department for people looking for unique antique pieces at a good value. The store, now located on Walnut Street in Shadyside, seems to have something for every type of taste.

“I think what really sets us apart from other jewelry stores is the level of service we provide,” said Henne. “We have three goldsmiths on staff, and we do a lot of custom design. We also have a certified master watchmaker on staff who can make repairs here faster and less expensively than at other service centers.”

Henne Jewelers’ reputation for quality products and superior service draws customers from Pittsburgh and the North Hills, as well as Ligonier, Erie and Wheeling. "Ten percent of our customers are from out-of-state who have been referred to us by someone who bought an engagement ring here, or who used to live in Pittsburgh but have since moved to another city,” said Henne.

Henne’s signature pieces have traveled all over the world, and have graced the outfits of many well-known people. The “city pin”, which was designed by Henne’s father, Jack Henne, and jeweler Jon Anderson, has been given to three presidential wives, as well as Raisa Gorbachev. Barbara Bush and Hillary Clinton both own the pin that showcases the Pittsburgh skyline, as do many other dignitaries.

The Henne family’s pride in Pittsburgh and its people is not only shown in the jewelry they create and in the relationships they nurture, but in their commitment to providing opportunities to a special group of children. Since 2000, John Henne has served on the executive committee and the board of Imani Christian Academy, a faith-based school located in Penn Hills. Jack Henne also serves on the school’s advisory board.

“Imani was started in 1993 with the mission of embracing all children, especially those at-risk,” explained Headmaster Milton E. Raiford. “Our goal is to let these children know that they are loved, and to transform them into whole adults—physically, academically, spiritually and socially—who live lives of purpose and contribution.”

Imani, which means “faith” in Swahili, started with three teachers, 30 children, and virtually no financial resources. Now 180 children in grades K-12 attend the school that boasts a zero dropout rate. To date, 90 students have graduated from the Academy, with 72 percent going on to post-secondary education. Last year alone, 11 of the school’s 13 graduates were accepted into colleges and universities. More importantly, even those who did not go to college live lives of purpose and contribution, either in the military or by becoming gainfully employed.

“There are two things that really stand out about Imani,” said Henne. “The first is their dedication to faith and to Jesus Christ. They don’t compromise on that. They believe that their faith allows them to accomplish great things.”

“The second is that they provide much more than just an education to their students,” he continued. “A lot of these kids need more than someone to teach them—they need people to love them and value them. They need to know that someone cares. These kids come in and are given a purpose and a value—through that, they begin to learn.”

“We don’t give up on these kids,” added Raiford, “which is one reason why we have a zero drop-out rate. If a child is missing from our school for two days, we go out and find them. Unlike some schools, we don’t believe in taking a government stipend to educate a student without their body being present. This is more than a school—it’s a family. Ninety percent of these children come from broken homes, and it is our goal to heal their spirits.”

With the support of Imani and Henne Jewelers behind them, it is no wonder that so many of the school’s students go on to succeed. “We consider the Henne family dear friends and also part of our family,” said Raiford. “They not only serve on the board and provide financial support, but they pray for us.”

“I have literally seen miracles occur at Imani, which is why I like to introduce people to the school,” said Henne. “In one visit, they can see how it positively changes students’ lives. People leave touched by the experience.”

For more information on Henne Jewelers, visit www.hennejewelers.com or call 412-682-0226. To learn more about Imani, visit www.imanichristianacademy.org or call 412-508-0274.