Almost 40 past and present board member of The Unforgettbales Foundation gathered to celebrate the beginning of the charities’ 20th year. Montecito Mortuary staff, led by Redlands Sunrise Rotarian and Cemetery General Manager Kelley Bowden, hosted the historic occasion – as a home grown cause reaches a generation of unique and unpredicted impacts.
Original board chair Dr. Tom Sherwin, M.D. a long time pediatric ER Physician at Loma Linda, who brought his wife, brother, and son (Tyler currently a board member) was given an award for loyalty and love to local children. “I really believe in what The Unforgettables is all about “says the Yucaipa resident. Sherwin also does medical care for kids in the Coachella Valley.
Another service award was given to Dr. Clare Sheridan Matney, M.D. who was appointed board secretary on the founding team in 2000. She recently retired from Loma Linda and the San Bernardino County Children Assessment Center where she dealt with the difficult area of Victorville and Devore now runs a substance abuse practice in the High Desert.
The 3rd core founding physician of the group, Dr. Don Morres, who helped The Unforgettables Foundation lead Founder (then Chaplain) Tim Evans of Highland set up the mission in 1998/99 ,was also in attendance. Currently, Dr. Moores is the Chief of Pediatric Trauma Surgery at Loma Linda University Childrens Hospital (and Redlands resident). These doctors were Evans’ go to group during the formation year. Chaplain Evans worked closely with all of them in building the Childrens Hospital spiritual care support.
An additional plaque was designed for Dr. Leonard Bailey, famed Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon, who shared encouragement to the group over many years. Evans remembers and reflects – “to have the advice and input of medical and clinical giants from local children’s healthcare, from the legal side of things with Kawika Smith of Colton (a public defender) and Bryon Hartnell (estate attorney), and Dean Stordahl (retired CEO of Pettis VA Hospital) I thank God for the tremendous tradition of their caring and quality leadership.”
Other board chairs past, present, and future in attendance included Glenn Tetley (a CFP in Riverside from Grand Terrace), Mitch Morales (a mortuary exec from Phelan), and Stan Morrison (a bank exec from Riverside). Officers like Linda Stratton of Banning, Suzie Aceves of Rancho Cucamonga, Cherie Russell Crutcher of Riverside, and Christine Beamer of Calimesa, all greeted guest. The event was aided by The Unforgettables Foundation Office Manager Lori O’Connor of Yucaipa.
There are over 150 past and current board members from The Unforgettables story! Over 5000 SoCal families have been helped by The Unforgettbales Foundation (a Redlands based 501 (c) (3) nonprofit) to be able to afford a simple dignified funeral when they have lost a child 18 years of age to 30 weeks of pregnancy.