Batesville, Ind. – Batesville, a leader in the death care industry, has committed $200,000 in funding for new programs to benefit funeral professionals in the U.S. and Canada in recognition of the care and compassion they provided in helping the more than 600,000 families who lost loved ones to COVID-19. These “Honoring Lives” funds, a tribute to the company’s mission, will be distributed to major trade and professional organizations in support of a variety of programs – from research and education to grief support and self-care.
“Batesville’s roots in funeral service go back more than a century, but I cannot recall a time when funeral professionals were asked to carry such a heavy burden for so long,” said Chris Trainor, president of Batesville. “We have been inspired by their courage and tenacity and are grateful to be in a position to give back to those who have already given so much.”
As a partner to thousands of funeral homes throughout North America, Batesville understands the mental and physical stress funeral directors have faced in dealing with an unprecedented number of deaths, while adapting to ever-changing health and safety restrictions. The company saw its volume increase by nearly 30 percent at peak periods of the pandemic. Its manufacturing and service teams worked overtime and weekends for more than a year to try to keep pace with the surge in demand for burial caskets primarily driven by estimated higher deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“COVID-19 has made a permanent impression on all of us, but as we begin the recovery process, it is vital that we come together as a community and make investments in the future of funeral service and funeral professionals,” said Trainor. “A lot of professional programs and other activities got put on the back burner last year, and this is one way we can help reinvigorate our industry.”
The company is working with leaders from the following organizations to identify the areas of greatest need and determine how the Honoring Lives funds will be directed: Cremation Association of North America (CANA), Funeral Service Foundation, ICCFA Educational Foundation, National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association (NFDMA), Selected Educational Trust, Funeral Service Association of Canada (FSAC), Ontario Association of Cemetery and Funeral Professionals (OACFP), and the Ontario Funeral Service Association (OFSA).
More information on the individual projects will be made available to members of the different organizations over the next few months.
ABOUT BATESVILLE
Batesville (www.Batesville.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE:HI), is a recognized leader in the death care industry in North America, offering a comprehensive portfolio of burial and cremation products, memorialization options and innovative technology solutions. For more than 125 years, Batesville has supported licensed funeral professionals in helping families honor the lives of those they love.® A history of manufacturing excellence, product innovation, superior customer service and reliable delivery helped Batesville become – and remain – an industry leader.
