Latest news with #DonaldMiller
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Roosevelt Memorial Park sued for $3M+
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — After a couple's son was allegedly buried 'in a decrepit, mud-torn, weed and trash-infested section of Roosevelt Memorial Park,' the couple has filed a more than $3 million lawsuit against the burial ground, saying its owners were grossly negligent and reckless. Grave situation at Roosevelt Memorial Park cemetery continues 10 On Your Side, on a number of occasions over the years, has reported on complaints surrounding Roosevelt Memorial Park, to the point where we were asked not to return. Attorney Kevin Biniazan filed the lawsuit on behalf of Donald and Vickie Miller, who live in Norfolk and bought a burial site for their son at Roosevelt Memorial Park after his death in December 2020. Another family seeks missing headstone at Chesapeake cemetery Chesapeake Del. Cliff Hayes claims the top complaint coming into his office is about Roosevelt Memorial Park. 'That's just getting their attention,' Hayes said. 'This is a continuation of the same problems that, over the years, we've heard about. We've been here, we've talked to them, the families have talked to them, and they're not getting anything resolved, and so to see that someone is actually filing a lawsuit, a $3 million lawsuit, ought to be getting their attention.' The lawsuit alleges Roosevelt Memorial Park violated Virginia's Consumer Protection Act, with the Millers alleging Roosevelt's owners were grossly negligent, reckless and acted under willful conduct. Families seek answers in search for grave markers at Chesapeake cemetery 'It is egregious,' Hayes said. 'It's bad enough that the service that they're promising to provide, they're not providing, but then it's worse under the conditions, and the timing of your burying your loved one when you're grieving … and dealing with this.' The complaint states that the employee 'Ms. Knight falsely represented that Revelation Garden was open, with green grass, clear of debris, fenced in, and appropriately maintained.' Family fears parents' graves are in jeopardy because of nearby cemetery drainage ditch 'You don't show up with the body and everybody's in the funeral procession about to say their last goodbyes, and they are standing in some shoddy little hole in the ground as opposed to the pristine place that you promised,' Hayes said. 'Instead, Defendants buried Mr. Miller's son in a decrepit, mud-torn, weed and trash-infested section of Roosevelt Memorial Park.' Hayes, himself, has at least 20 family members buried at Roosevelt. 'I have family members that are out here,' Hayes said. 'They [the owners] just don't care. They don't care. They just hope that you just keep fighting 'till you give up and go away, but the problem is, the list is so long that something has to be done, and this lawsuit ought to get their attention wherever they are in some other state, or what have you, collecting their money.' The suit alleges 'Ms. Knight falsely represented that Mr. Miller's son would be buried in the section of 'Revelation Garden' she showed or indicated to Mr. Miller … that she knew at the time … Mr. Miller's son would not be buried in that section of Revelation Garden.' Said Hayes: 'But it is not the place for people to come and say their last goodbyes to their relatives,' Hayes said. 'I mean, a place where you would think that it'd be taken care of, you shouldn't have to beg anybody to keep up the lawn.' The suit also notes that, on May 9, 2021, Mother's Day, 'Mr. Miller requested that the grave site be cleaned up for mom's visit. Groundskeeper Dave Campbell assured him it would be cleaned up.' The suit states that didn't happen, even after failing the family from the start. 'Every complaint and request made by Mr. Miller has been met with knowingly false assurances that something would be done to meet his expectations,' Hayes said. Hayes calls it cruel, saying Roosevelt's staff has no interest in decency. That's one of the reasons the Millers filed suit. 'Your end of the deal is to pay them,' Hayes said. 'Their end of the deal is to make sure that it's a decent place that they promised when they showed you what you would be getting.' The lawsuit mentions the defendants as Stonemor, but the company is now called Everstory. Everstory, while not commenting, did provide a statement. 'Everstory Partners does not comment on pending litigation. We can say, however, that we are committed to working towards a mutually agreeable resolution for the family.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Forbes
7 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
How Setting Aside Revenue For Good Helps Your Business Mission Grow
Ryan McFarland, Founder & CEO of Strider Bikes. Most businesses want to support causes they believe in and make a positive impact beyond their bottom line. As altruistic as we'd all like to be, we often put up roadblocks that stop us. I find the biggest roadblock to be that we see giving as an afterthought. It's something we consider only when profits allow, or when a pressing need arises. That's a reactive exercise and it will never allow you to truly help people or work on the projects you're passionate about—because there's always an excuse for why next month might be a better time to give. If you really want to commit yourself to giving, you need to turn your company's giving mission proactive. Carve off a percentage of your revenue for good—no questions asked, no hesitation, no second-guessing. That may be frightening, but I can tell you from experience that it will strengthen your operation and bring your business closer to its mission statement. The first (and most challenging) step is committing to your new revenue reality. A few years ago, I was reading a book called Blue Like Jazz, by Donald Miller. In one chapter, Miller describes a friend who took a percentage of his paycheck, committed it to God, put it in a jar and set it aside strictly for doing good. When his friend wanted to buy a new motorcycle, Miller suggested he dip into the jar on his dresser. But he couldn't. Why? He didn't consider that money his own. Yes, it was in his home, but it was designated for making the world a better place. That concept stuck with me. First, I obviously sympathized with wanting that new motorcycle! I got into the business of making balance bikes for kids because I just loved the idea of sharing my love of two wheels with my kids. Then I got so passionate about it, I wanted to share that love with kids around the world. But the more I focused on making a better bike and selling it, the farther I got from that original mission. If I wanted to teach every child how to ride, I had to go farther than convincing parents to just buy my bikes. I had to commit to more impactful projects. Not long after reading that book, we made a powerful decision to commit 1% of our monthly gross revenue—before cost of goods sold, before expenses, before knowing if there would even be any profits—to charitable initiatives that were core to our mission. That money, we thought, is no longer ours. It belongs to our giving mission. In the years that followed, we've gotten closer to what I always wanted our business to be. We've donated bikes to hospitals, custom-modified bikes for kids with height and limb differences, funded programs that teach kindergartners how to ride in PE class and more. The key that unlocked all those possibilities was the simple act of committing 1% of our revenue to a proverbial jar and accepting that it wasn't our money. It made giving a consistent, sustainable part of our business. More importantly, it made our giving more proactive. We no longer had to decide every month or every year whether we 'could afford' to give. It just became part of how we operated. You've already taken the step to bake giving into your budget, so treat your giving mission the same way you treat other parts of your business. Develop grand plans for your giving mission and map out the steps you need to get there. What revenue goal do you need to hit so that your 1% can help you reach your most lofty charitable goals? This has two advantages. First, if you start by thinking small, you have to continuously plan your next big giving project as your capacity for giving grows. Second, your big dreams give your team a compelling reason to help the business grow. Now, you're not just trying to grow your bottom line. You're pushing everyone toward an exciting mission-driven goal. Somewhere along the line, we've all seen some version of the sales goal thermometer. What if you could replace that number at the top with your team's most coveted charitable mission? The human element of your goal is much more compelling than any monetary incentive. In the end, you'll push your team to do good and your business will benefit as a natural consequence. Since launching our program—the Strider Rider Fund—we've been able to support more projects because our team has been invested in those giving missions. They help us brainstorm our big ideas and they feel connected to making those ideas a reality, which means they're also more connected to our brand's mission—to teach every child how to ride a bike. Because that money is always there, giving back is never stressful. Even if we don't hit our #1 goal, we can always find an impactful project within our roadmap. Then we get to look at this growing fund and dream about how we can use it to make an even bigger difference. This single decision to set aside a percentage of our revenue changed the way we give. It has allowed us to give literally millions to the causes we love, and I believe it can change the way businesses everywhere approach doing good. If you really have a passion, especially one that's in line with your business mission, choose a percentage and stick to it. Set it aside, and let it become part of the DNA of your company. Don't leave it up to emotion, timing or financial ups and downs. Carve it off the top, and then run your business knowing that what's left is what you have to work with. You'll be amazed at how much that tiny percentage allows you to accomplish, and how it transforms the way you and your team approach your business. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
