by The Unforgettables on 2014-04-30

April 30, 1999 was a day that has made a difference in the lives of thousands of Inland Empire families, though little did the founders of The Unforgettables then realize the impact that was being created. Montecito Mortuary Chapel at the intersection of the cities of Loma Linda, Colton and San Bernardino was the meeting site for 30 local leaders as the LLLU Children's Hospital Chaplain Tim Evans presented and explained his idea of how to meet a previously unmet community need. With the group's unanimous support and commitment of personal wealth, wisdom and hard work as volunteers that evening, The Unforgettables Foundation was created. Fifteen years later, 5,000 grieving and at-risk families have received essential and critically needed bereavement support for, especially, the funding of a simple and dignified funeral for a child. In 2013, the group aided almost 300 cases, and now, has been of assistance to parents in over 100 Southern California communities in the decade and a half of service by this mission of mercy. The cause has also spread to Orange County, to Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada, and to two major children’s hospitals in Canada, in Toronto and Ottawa. On May 8, over 250 San Bernardino County charities will partner on the inaugural GiveBig event, a 24 hour online fundraising and awareness raising campaign. As part of that celebration of giving and volunteerism, The Unforgettables, a grassroots volunteer-driven and founded 501(c)(3) non-profit charity, will be asking friends, donors, volunteers and families served to give $15 or more online at www.sbcountygivebig.org in honor of the 5000 and more mothers, grandmothers and aunts they have helped over the years at their family's darkest hour during this Mother's Day weekend and the 15th birthday of a cause that has become synonymous with childhood death and burial support. Founder Tim Evans states, "The Unforgettables, according to eHow.com, is a real one-of-a-kind cause, offering comprehensive support and monies when children 32 weeks of gestation to 18 years, for all causes of death, and from any race or religion, have died and their loved ones left behind need help to afford the funeral. We honor children and help their parents."