May 2020

Page A23 MAY 2020 FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS S ec t i on A CORONAVIRUS INDUSTRY RESPONSE COVID-19 BROOKFIELD,WI— The National Funeral Direc- tors Association (NFDA) and the Funeral Ser- vice Foundation are de- lighted to announce their lead contributions total- ing $250,000 to the Foun- dation’s newly-announced COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund , which will help fu- neral service professionals and organizations working throughout the country in areas that are dispropor- tionately impacted by the novel Coronavirus (COV- ID-19) pandemic. NFDA’s lead gift of NFDA Calls Up First Volunteers for COVID-19 Funeral Home Relief Efforts; continues to Accept Assistance BROOKFIELD,WI— The National Fu- neral Directors Association (NFDA) has called up its first volunteers to lend on-the-ground assistance in some of the areas hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus far, more than 600 members of the funeral profession, from licensed funeral directors to students and ap- prentices, have expressed a willingness to help their colleagues in need. NFDA has called up the following: • On April 8, the names of eight li- censed funeral directors from the state of New York were provided to the New York State Funeral Direc- tors Association (NYSFDA), which is managing requests for assistance from funeral homes in the New York City area. • On April 9, the names of 115 stu- dents and apprentices were sent to the New York City Office of Emer- gency Management to help hospitals ensure decedents in their custody are treated respectfully until funeral homes conduct transfers. • On April 10, the names of 23 vol- unteers – 16 licensed funeral direc- tors from New Jersey and 7 students and apprentices – were forwarded to the New Jersey State Funeral Direc- tors Association, which is managing requests for assistance from funeral homes. • On April 10, NFDA sent the names of 15 volunteers from the state if Mich- igan to the Michigan Funeral Direc- tors Association, which is managing requests for help from funeral homes. On April 9, New York Governor An- drew Cuomo granted temporary license reciprocity to out-of-state funeral direc- tors, paving the way for NFDA to send the names of 100 additional volunteers to NYSFDA in the coming days. NFDA continues to work with the Na- tional Governors Association on a com- prehensive license reciprocity solution, which will enable it to quickly respond to requests for assistance from state fu- neral associations in the days and weeks to come. NFDA is grateful to the Funeral Ser- vice Foundation and its COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund, which is reim- bursing expenses incurred during their service (e.g., transportation, lodging and meals) that are not covered by any other funder or agency “Those who care for the dead in hot spots – funeral homes, cemeteries and crematories – have been stretched to their limits,” said NFDA President R . Bryant Hightower Jr ., CFSP. “They are facing an unprecedented situation – car- ing for the many people who are dying due to coronavirus in addition to all of the deaths from other causes. I am grate- ful to the funeral professionals who are able to leave their funeral homes to help colleagues in need. If you are like me and unable to serve as a volunteer, I ask you to join me in keeping our volunteers in your thoughts and prayers.” He continued, “Regardless of wheth- er you have cared for victims of the pandemic, we are all facing challeng- es. From limiting attendance at funeral services to taking extra precautions to ensure we’re keeping families, our staff and our communities safe – we’ve all had to make significant adjustments in a very short period of time. As some- one in the trenches with you, I am very appreciative of your efforts during this difficult time.” NFDA is still adding names to its ros- ter of volunteers in anticipation of oth- er hot spots emerging in the days and weeks to come. Funeral service profes- sionals willing to volunteer can fill out a form on the NFDA website, https:// www.nfda.org/covid-19/help- needed. The form asks potential volunteers to be as specific as possible with the kind of assistance and expertise they can of- fer. (Funeral service professionals who have already submitted their name do not need to provide their information again.) Questions about volunteering can be sent to nfda@nfda.org. Lead Contributions from NFDA and FSF Total $250,000 for Funeral Service Foundation’s COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund $50,000 on behalf of its members and the Foundation’s $200,000 allocation will go a long way toward ensuring fu- neral professionals have the resources they need to respond to the needs of families and communities. “Funeral directors are on the front lines of this pandemic, working to en- sure everyone who dies is cared for with respect and dignity,” said NFDA President R. Bryant Hightower Jr ., CFSP. “NFDA is proud to support their heroic efforts with this gift. We also recognize the significant impact that limited funerals and delayed ser- vices have on families’ grief journey. We are pleased that our gift will help bolster resources to help families heal during this time of uncertainty.” “The Foundation’s Board of Trust- ees launched this fund with the un- derstanding that funeral service is al- ready responding to the crisis in a big way and will need tremendous support to continue to do so effectively,” said Foundation Chair Anthony Guer- ra of Guerra & Gutierrez Mortuar- ies in Los Angeles. “The Foundation’s Crisis Fund allocation underscores our enduring commitment to all of funeral service.” The COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund has two pillars of support: emer- gency assistance and grief support. Designed to be flexible, the fund will provide grants for immediate needs within funeral service including emer- gency response to significant loss of life; grants to organizations providing services and resources to families with unresolved and complicated grief due to loss during this crisis; and grants for other important needs as funeral ser- vice continues to serve families during this rapidly evolving crisis. Homesteaders Commits $100,000 to Campaign Homesteaders Life Company has commit- ted up to $100,000 in matching funds for the Foundation’s Covid-19 Crisis Response Fund. “Homesteaders has been a huge supporter of the Foundation for years, and this match- ing donation is a significant boost for our Co- vid-19 Crisis Response Fund. We hope this inspires funeral directors everywhere to give what they can, so our profession can rise to the unprecedented loss of life resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic,” said Guerra. Judy Ralston-Hansen , Homesteaders Ex- ecutive VP-Human Resources, says Home- steaders is “all in” in support of this effort. “We are happy to provide funding to ampli- fy the generous giving we know funeral pro- fessionals across the country will offer to this critically important campaign.” “We’re hearing firsthand about the efforts funeral directors are making to prepare and serve during this rapidly evolving crisis,” said Kim Medici Shelquist , Homesteaders Se- nior VP-Planning and Development and Foundation Board Trustee. “Homesteaders is pleased to support the Foundation while helping raise money to support funeral pro- viders and families across the U.S. as they navigate this national emergency.” Homesteaders and the Foundation are counting on the funeral service commu- nity to respond generously and help at this unprecedented time of need and uncertain- ty. One-time or monthly gifts to the Funer- al Service Foundation’s Covid-19 Crisis Re- sponse Fund can be made online at www. funeralservicefoundation.org. Those inter- ested in supporting the fund may also send checks, made payable to the Funeral Service Foundation, to the FSF Covid-19 Crisis Re- sponse Fund, 13625 Bishop’s Drive, Brook- field, WI 53005, or donate over the phone by calling 262-814-1549. Funeral Service Professionals United looks to Enrich, Empower and Educate ST. LOUIS,MO— The Funeral Service Professionals United, Inc ., a non- profit 501(c)3 organization, understands how the pandemic of COVID-19 aka the coronavirus has impacted lives through- out the industry and across the country. “This crisis has come upon us in an eva- sive way and we want to further reiterate the importance of social distancing, stay- ing home as much as possible and last but not least wearing our PPE as an add- ed precaution to slow the spread of this disease. We also realize that in our pro- fession, we have to be out on the front line of this battle and take risks for our families every day and even now. It is with great pride that we uphold a stan- dard as professionals and continue to stay in the fight as our strength encour- ages us to do,” says S. Ellis , FSPU, Inc. Founder/President. The FSPU, Inc. organization’s goal/mis- sion is to enrich, empower and further educate current and future funeral ser- vice professionals nationwide. FSPU, Inc. wants to help in magnificent ways in an effort to ease burdens, especially during this disastrous time. They partner with businesses and other organizations to be an asset to the industry. To learn more visit their Facebook and Instagram pages @FuneralServiceProfessionalsUnited or www.FSPU.org. SEND US YOUR NEWS! PO Box 5159, Youngstown, OH 44514 1-800-321-7479 • info@nomispublications.com FUNERAL HOME & CEMETERY NEWS We welcome news of the industry. Send us information on your firm today!