Local business continuing Monument Assistance Program

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - At the Hall County Board Meeting on Tuesday , it was announced that a headstone fund was still ongoing from All Faiths Funeral Home, to raise money for those affected by the Monument Advisors fraud case.

All Faiths Funeral Home has partnered with area monument makers to start a fund assisting those impacted by the actions of Monument Advisors. Their goal is to raise $150,000 in three months to help families who haven’t received a headstone they’ve paid for. Some people paid more than $7,000.

The fundraiser started in June, and some area monument makers are giving fraud victims half price quotes to accommodate their loss. Officials said the victims are emotionally drained and ready to move on from the situation. One area monument maker said in a two-week span five families have reached out to them. Local funeral businesses are outraged by the pending case.

“First of all families are going through such a hardship grieving their love one in the first place.” said Dan Naranjo, Owner of All Faiths Funeral Home. “Then you know part of that journey of grieving is to be able to honor your love one by ordering a monument with the right wording, sometimes with the right picture and so forth, and you just really want it to be special.”

Organizers have been in contact with many of the families effected and some are also helping with the fundraising effort. Naranjo said the Monument Assistance Program started with the calls he was receiving. Families were looking to encourage someone from the community to help couldn’t help themselves.

Naranjo said they are have currently raised $15,000, All Faiths Funeral Home has donated 10,000. But for some in the funeral business, it’s all about helping the community.

“I live here,” said Pat Brown, Salesman at Palmer Monument Company in Grand Island. “I live in Grand Island, I grew up, you know I raised my kids here, I’m part of the community so I, you just want to...you just want to be helpful when you can. We’re happy to do it, it’s not that really that huge of a deal to us and we’re happy to help.”

To donate you can bring a check or cash to All Faiths Funeral Home in the name of the Monument Assistance Program.

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