Brookfield, Wis. – With gratitude, Funeral Service Foundation 2016 Chair Gerard “Jerry” Schoen III, announced last week that Batesville pledged a major gift of $150,000 in support of the Foundation’s mission to fund projects and programs that support all of funeral service in building meaningful relationships in the community. Batesville’s pledge in the single largest gift presented to the Foundation this year.
Schoen made the announcement during the opening general session of the National Funeral Directors Association’s annual International Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana last week. “Batesville believes in the power of philanthropy and its critical importance in helping shape our profession,” said Schoen. “This gift forges an even stronger bond between Batesville and the Foundation.”
Attended by nearly 6,000 funeral directors, allied professions and leaders within the profession, the convention’s annual ceremony kicked-off the world’s largest gathering of funeral service professionals. Batesville President and newly-elected Foundation Trustee Chris Trainor was present for the announcement; he presented Schoen and Foundation Executive Director Danelle O’Neill with a ceremonial check.
“Batesville has a longstanding partnership with the Foundation,” said Trainor. “We share a common vision for the future of funeral service and are pleased to continue our support of the Foundation’s work. We believe this gift is an investment that will help shape the vision of our profession long into the future.”
Like the Funeral Service Foundation, Batesville has been serving the funeral service profession for generations. This transformational pledge brings Batesville’s cumulative giving total to $644,800 and places Batesville as the Foundation’s top donor.
The contribution from Batesville will directly support the Foundation’s proactive efforts to seek relevant and innovative funding opportunities that enhance the funeral service profession, benefit funeral directors and allied professionals, thus making a timely impact on local communities.
About the Funeral Service Foundation – FuneralServiceFoundation.org
The Funeral Service Foundation is the leading public foundation dedicated in perpetuity to serve the funeral service profession. In alignment with its mission, the Foundation supports all of funeral service in building meaningful relationships in the community by commissioning innovative research, funding programs and professional development, administering and awarding scholarships and assisting communities in crisis.
About Batesville – Batesville.com
Batesville, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE: HI), is the leader in the North American death care industry, offering a comprehensive portfolio of Burial Solutions, Cremation Options, Memorial Solutions and Technology Solutions. For more than 125 years, Batesville has been dedicated to helping families honor the lives of those they love.®
Left to Right: Batesville President and Foundation Trustee, Chris Trainor; Foundation Executive Director, Danelle O’Neill; and Foundation 2016 Chair, Gerard “Jerry” Schoen III