$53,000 gift from Memorial Classic Inc.
The Funeral Service Foundation announced a $53,000 major gift from Memorial Classic Inc. and an increase in annual Memorial Classic Golf Tournament academic scholarships offered to funeral service students.
“Memorial Classic is privileged to regularly support the Foundation’s efforts to fuel the academic success of our profession’s emerging leaders in memory of those who blazed the trail before them,” said Tom Johnson, Johnson Consulting founder and Foundation trustee emeritus. “This year, we are honored to award two $2,500 academic scholarships and intend to award a record $10,000 in Memorial Classic Golf Tournament Scholarships in 2017.”
This year’s recipients are Joshua Lee Woodruff, who is slated to graduate with his associate degree from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in August 2017, and Shelly Schuster, a senior at the University of Minnesota who intends to graduate with her bachelor’s degree in June 2017.
Gerard “Jerry” Schoen III, Foundation immediate past president, recognized the contribution during the Foundation’s annual donor appreciation reception during the NFDA convention. “We are grateful to Memorial Classic Inc., Johnson Consulting and all those involved with the outing who answer the call to give year after year,” said Schoen. “Every gift matters.”
Awarded annually, the Memorial Classic Golf Tournament Scholarship is one of four academic scholarships the Foundation offers to full- or part-time students of funeral service who are enrolled in ABFSE-accredited institutions. In addition to academic scholarships, the Foundation wholly funds NFDA’s Meet the Mentors program and offers professional development scholarships to attendees of the association’s annual Professional Women’s Conference, Arranger Training program and cremation and preneed certification continuing education programs.
Sponsored by Johnson Consulting, the annual golf outing has raised $238,000 since its inception for the Memorial Classic Golf Tournament Scholarship in memory of the profession’s finest: Bill Bishoff, Dave Hirt, Steve Mack, John Morrow, Ed Murphy, Ed Tuggle and Joe Weatherford.