A Diamond Industry Veteran Helps Young People Stay Sober

After Eve Goldberg’s son Isaac Goldberg Volkmar passed away from an accidental drug overdose in 2014, she made it her mission to help young adults who are struggling with addiction maintain their sobriety.

As Goldberg experienced firsthand, addiction treatment programs aren’t enough. People need to learn how to live a happy and social life that is substance free.

To that end, Goldberg established BigVision, a place where hundreds of young adults struggling with substance abuse have come to socialize, have fun and live a sober life. It sounds simple, but up until Big Vision, it hadn’t existed in New York City.

“People think that once you complete addiction treatment, you are good,” explained Goldberg. “That is not the case. It’s a constant struggle. There are triggers everywhere. People need a place to go to learn how to have fun without drugs and alcohol.”

With support from her family, friends and community, Goldberg’s BigVision has grown from a grass roots effort into a meaningful organization that serves hundreds of people every year. Last November, BigVision moved into new sprawling 4,000-square foot space in midtown Manhattan that will start offering ongoing free activities, events and support for 18- to 35-year-olds. Activities include BigVision’s annual basketball fundraiser, dry happy hour, yoga and knitting classes, and more.

If you think addiction doesn’t impact you, think again. Substance abuse is an epidemic that crosses all races, ages and socioeconomics in this country. The statistics are staggering: 46.3 million people aged 12 and older had a substance use disorder in 2021. Last year, 110,000 people died of drug overdoses, which is slightly higher than the previous year.

BigVision is part of Goldberg’s family values. Her determination and sense of compassion she says came from her father, William Goldberg, the legendary diamantaire who helped shape New York’s diamond district. “My father was philanthropic,” she recalled. “But he didn’t just give money, he gave his time.”

Eve Goldberg remains dedicated to the family’s business, founded by her father in 1973. Under the family’s leadership, which includes Eve’s brother, Saul, brother-in-law, Barry Berg, and Saul’s son, Benjamin Goldberg, the company continues to handle some of the world’s most exceptional stones and is the exclusive source of the patented Ashoka cut diamond.

My father always told me that by selling diamonds, we are bringing joy into people’s lives. I believe that too.

Eve and isaac goldberg

“I love the diamond business,” said Goldberg. “It’s my family and we love what we do. My father always told me that by selling diamonds, we are bringing joy into people’s lives. I believe that too.”

After dealing with the loss of her son, she now finds joy and satisfaction seeing Big Vision help young adults when they need it most. “When I lost Isaac, I needed a way to give back. We created something that was desperately needed but hadn’t been done before.” Her goal is to eventually expand BigVision into other cities across the country.

She’s observed newcomers in the program grow their confidence and build relationships and return to school and jobs. “Some people have told me that BigVision gave them their life back,” she said. “This is the missing link in the recovery process.”