Divorced woman to give away engagement ring & wedding band to one couple who faced adversity in 2020

Divorced Virginia woman, 39, is giving away her $2,800 diamond engagement ring and $760 wedding band to one deserving couple who faced adversity in 2020

  • Christine Bonavita, 39, from Norfolk, finalized her divorce in January 2021
  • This month, she posted a giveaway on Facebook, promising a free engagement and wedding ring to one couple who ‘faced adversities’ in 2020
  • The 14k white gold engagement ring is one carat and was $2,799.99 in 2010; the wedding band is .25 carats and cost $759 in 2010
  • Preference will be given to ‘first responders, minorities, LGBTQ, and those with disabilities’
  • Christine said it will give her ‘peace to give it to someone who otherwise might not have a ring at all’ 

A Virginia woman who was divorced last year is giving away her engagement ring and wedding ring to one deserving couple.

Christine Bonavita, 39, from Norfolk, had her divorced finalized last January, but struggled to figure out what to do with the pricey rings she no longer wore.

Then it hit her: The mother-of-two took to Facebook to say she she is ‘starting this year off right’ by giving away the diamond jewelry as a gift to one couple who ‘faced adversities’ in 2020.

Free bling! Christine Bonavita, 39, is giving away her engagement ring and wedding ring to one deserving couple after getting divorced last year

Generous: She had her divorced finalized last January, and wanted to do something kind with her $2,800 engagement ring and $760 wedding ring, which she no longer needs

Generous: She had her divorced finalized last January, and wanted to do something kind with her $2,800 engagement ring and $760 wedding ring, which she no longer needs

Christine posted about the giveaway on January 5. 

‘In the spirit of hope and starting this year off right,’ she wrote, ‘it would truly give me no greater happiness than to bestow both my former engagement ring and my wedding ring to a deserving couple that has faced adversities in 2020 and can articulate to me how you have or you will overcome anything together. 

‘I am gratefully celebrating being officially divorced for one year this month and after careful consideration throughout all of 2020, I have concluded that it would bring me the most joy to see others smile in receiving these wedding gifts!’ she went on.

Christine concluded the post with a quote from hiker Chris McCandless, whose story was the inspiration for the book and movie Into the Wild: ‘Happiness only real when shared.’

The engagement ring has three diamonds totaling one carat, and was purchased in 2010 for $2,799.99. The wedding band has smaller diamond totaling a fourth of a carat, and cost $759 in 2010. Both are size nine and set in 14k white gold.

Christine told The Virginia-Pilot that friends had suggested she pawn the rings, or save them for her six- and eight-year-old daughters, but she came up with a better idea. 

'Through all that I’ve always been fortunate enough to have people in my life help me,' she said. 'I want to pay it forward. People can just use a little bit of kindness.'

‘Through all that I’ve always been fortunate enough to have people in my life help me,’ she said. ‘I want to pay it forward. People can just use a little bit of kindness.’

‘I spent a whole year thinking about what I wanted to do,’ she said. ‘They’re beautiful rings, and I know with the year we’ve all had … it would make me happy and give me more peace to give it to someone who otherwise might not have a ring at all.’

Since she posted, her ex-husband, a disabled combat veteran, added his own wedding band to the giveaway.

‘Through all that I’ve always been fortunate enough to have people in my life help me,’ she said. ‘I want to pay it forward. People can just use a little bit of kindness.’

The giveaway is open to anyone over age 18. Entrants must email Christine with their full names, a recent photo, and at least 250 words on ‘how you have or will overcome 2020’s obstacles with hope, love, faith, laughter and/or bada**ery and marry the one you love.’

Submissions will be accepted until 12:01 a.m. on February 1st, 2021 and a winner will be notified on Valentine’s Day. 

Though she said she doesn’t know what exactly she is looking for in a winner, preference will be given to ‘First Responders, minorities, LGBTQ or those with disabilities.’  

As of Tuesday, she said she had received several dozen submissions. While most were local, she as also had some from England.