Erin Tetzlaff poses with Jerry Miller, owner of Wink's Fine Jewelry, after her husband, Kevin, won a diamond ring from Wink's . Every year Miller donates a diamond to East Central CASA?s annual Fire & Ice fundraiser, and Kevin Tetzlaff found the stone in his glass of champagne in 2009.

Editor's note: This is the first in a series of articles about some of the key businesses and business leaders in Brookings. The series is intended as a "get-acquainted " aspect of The Brookings Register's Community Unity project. Brookings has been good to Jerry Miller. He's raised a family here and operated a successful business in the city for years.

And Jerry Miller has been good to Brookings. The local jeweler says he believes in giving back to his community but actions speak louder than words. Every year the owner of Wink's Fine Jewelry puts thousands of dollars back into the community by donating to local organizations and events. Wink's opened in Brookings in 1963, and Miller bought the store 15 years later. Since then, he's earned a reputation as one of the city's most successful and generous entrepreneurs. Miller is a good businessman. His ads are timely and clever, his sales staff and service topnotch. He's a community booster, too check during Hobo Days or homecoming, and you'll see colorful store windows given over to support of the home teams.

But what really sets Miller and Wink's apart is the generosity he's shown to local causes.

Practically all of Brookings' Main Street businesses make generous contributions to various causes and fundraisers on an almostweekly basis. The gifts are often rewarded only with a line in a program or a thank-you letter in the paper. Many local donations

Like his peers, Miller over the years has made significant contributions to the United Way, the Elks Foundation, Pheasants Forever, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, mentoring programs, a variety of SDSU efforts (such as the Stan Marshall auction for Jackrabbit athletics ), area post-prom parties, Evening for the Arts, and much more. But one organization that Miller takes a particular interest in is East Central CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates for Children). East Central CASA is a nonprofit organization that represents abused and neglected children in the community during court proceedings. Its trained volunteers speak for the children who would otherwise not be heard, giving them a voice, hope and a future.

Each year for the past five years, Miller has donated a one-carat diamond to be given away at CASA's annual Fire & Ice Gala fundraiser. Giving Tree raises $1,400

Just last year, Wink's started The Giving Tree. The in-store fundraiser held during the Christmas season allowed anyone, for a donation of $10 or more, to come to the business and select a wrapped, surprise present off the tree.

All of the gifts on The Giving Tree, valued at $10 or more and all the way up to a diamond pendant, were donated by Wink's , and all proceeds went to CASA. The firsttime event raised more than $1,400 in 2009.

Julie Wermers, executive director of East Central CASA, said she's grateful for Miller's support over the years.

"I really do appreciate all that Jerry has done to support East Central CASA. Without the generous support of the community, we would not be able to continue to provide a voice for the children in our community who need one.

"Jerry's support year after year speaks volumes of his dedication and his belief in our mission. For that we are truly grateful."

Miller said his became particularly interested in the organization because it reminded him of a time years ago when he was having family problems. CASA helps kids

"I had a child in trouble. I never got to the CASA program with her, but when I learned about CASA and the fact that they help the kids, what they speak for is the kids, it just made sense for me to donate to CASA.

"It struck a note with my heart because of a problem I had with a daughter after my wife died, how angry she was. " I just couldn't get her under control and used the court system to do it and got her back on the right path."

Knowing that there are kids who don't have parents who care about them was a big concern for Miller, and he saw donating to CASA as a way to help.

"Finding out that the CASA program, a lot of these kids, if they just had somebody to mentor them, " someone that cared for them, life would be so much better for them and so much easier."

Miller is modest about his contributions, preferring to not talk about specific dollar amounts. He said simply, "You take a small little store like this, and you start adding it up, it can be some substantial dollars. We give a lot back to our community."

The jeweler says he's had a good life in Brookings, and he wants others to share in his good fortune. 'Made decent living here'

"( I do it) because I've made a decent living here. This is where I chose to raise my kids, because it was a fabulous place, great community to raise your kids. They got a great education here. And SDSU is my alma mater.

"It's important to give back to the community , always. In one way or another, whether it's time or money."

Being so generous is bound to help business at Wink's , some people might think. But Miller's not sure, and that's not why he donates. He makes contributions because he can, because it's needed, and because it makes him feel good.

"I don't do it because it's business-related . I do it because it's needed for our community ," Miller says.

"Do people who go to the CASA event, do they come and shop here? Yeah. Would they have anyway? Probably. "

"But I give because I want to. I give because I enjoy seeing a nice piece of jewelry being won by someone who's excited about bidding on it. As long as I am able to donate and give back to my community, I will be glad to do it."

Contact Jill Fier at jfier@brookingsregister.com.