The major gift supports annual academic scholarships awarded to students of funeral service.
PHOENIX – The Memorial Classic, the annual golf outing headed by Tom and Jake Johnson of Johnson Consulting, raised $53,450 in support of the Funeral Service Foundation’s Memorial Classic academic scholarship fund, which allows the Foundation to provide academic scholarships each year to deserving students pursuing a career in funeral service.
“A rewarding career in funeral service begins with a solid education,” said Tom Johnson, Johnson Consulting founder and Foundation trustee emeritus. “It’s fitting that Memorial Classic academic scholarships are awarded to the next generation of funeral service leaders in memory of some of the profession’s most respected trailblazers.”
Players from across the profession gather for the annual Memorial Classic and dedicate the day’s play to the memory of the profession’s finest: Bill Bischoff, Dave Hirt, Steve Mack, John Morrow, Ed Murphy, Ed Tuggle and Joe Weatherford. Since its inception, the Memorial Classic has raised $292,000 in support of Funeral Service Foundation academic scholarships.
“The Memorial Classic’s long-standing commitment to the Funeral Service Foundation inspires our commitment to those pursuing a career in funeral service,” said Funeral Service Foundation Executive Director, Danelle O’Neill. “Our academic scholarships continually impact students who are called to a career in this profession.”
Two Memorial Classic scholarships were awarded earlier this year to Clyde Williams and Rosemary Brinza, who are on track to earning their associate degrees from East Mississippi Community College and Worsham College of Mortuary Science, respectively. “I am working hard to pursue my dream in becoming a funeral director,” said Brinza. “I am forever grateful and humbled by the Memorial Classic scholarship, which will help make my dream a reality.”
The Foundation will award an additional two Memorial Classic Scholarships later this year, and is currently accepting academic scholarship applications through November 30. Those interested may learn more and apply online at FuneralServiceFoundation.org.
About the Funeral Service Foundation – FuneralServiceFoundation.org
Since 1945, the Funeral Service Foundation has served as the profession’s philanthropic voice. As the charitable arm of the National Funeral Directors Association since 1997, the Foundation receives operational support from NFDA and donors across the profession to help advance its mission to support funeral service in building meaningful relationships with the families and the communities it serves.