Sunnyside Cemetery of Long Beach CA
Donation protected
Sunnyside Cemetery is a Long Beach historical landmark that was founded in 1906. Many prominent families are buried there who played vital roles in the development of Long Beach and Southern California.
In 1994, the cemetery was embezzled by more than a half million dollars from the endowment fund. The state Department of Consumer Affairs took the property into conservatorship and a group of volunteers made arrangements to keep the cemetery open and continue burials.
A small group of volunteers, who have relatives buried at the cemetery, have kept it alive for the past 23 years. Unfortunately, they are struggling. The cemetery director needs to retire, but to replace him with a licensed cemetery manager would cost thousands more.
It will cost about $100,000 per year to keep the cemetery open to the public (with a new part-time cemetery manager). The current budget is about $65,000 a year.
People are now coming forward to help in several ways:
* Enhance the activities at the cemetery - like the annual LB Historical Society Cemetery Tour, and summer scary movie nights.
* Develop new revenue generating opportunities - re-deed plots that have been abandoned, build a niche wall, and look at other events that could be held on site.
* Ask members of the business community to step forward and provide services and funds.
* Ask individuals to donate to the cemetery - any amount will help.
Sunnyside is one of the few civil war cemeteries in California. The beautiful monuments, grave stones, and inscriptions tell a history about the people that built our city.
The cemetery is in danger of having to close and go to ruin.
If you can help in any way, please let us know. For more background on the cemetery, visit http://hslb.org/historical-cemetery-tour/
Thank you so much for any help or ideas you can give. Your donation is 100% tax deductible. We are a 501(c13) non-profit organization!
The building is in desperate need of a new roof! The historical documents stored in the basement are starting to mold.
In 1994, the cemetery was embezzled by more than a half million dollars from the endowment fund. The state Department of Consumer Affairs took the property into conservatorship and a group of volunteers made arrangements to keep the cemetery open and continue burials.
A small group of volunteers, who have relatives buried at the cemetery, have kept it alive for the past 23 years. Unfortunately, they are struggling. The cemetery director needs to retire, but to replace him with a licensed cemetery manager would cost thousands more.
It will cost about $100,000 per year to keep the cemetery open to the public (with a new part-time cemetery manager). The current budget is about $65,000 a year.
People are now coming forward to help in several ways:
* Enhance the activities at the cemetery - like the annual LB Historical Society Cemetery Tour, and summer scary movie nights.
* Develop new revenue generating opportunities - re-deed plots that have been abandoned, build a niche wall, and look at other events that could be held on site.
* Ask members of the business community to step forward and provide services and funds.
* Ask individuals to donate to the cemetery - any amount will help.
Sunnyside is one of the few civil war cemeteries in California. The beautiful monuments, grave stones, and inscriptions tell a history about the people that built our city.
The cemetery is in danger of having to close and go to ruin.
If you can help in any way, please let us know. For more background on the cemetery, visit http://hslb.org/historical-cemetery-tour/
Thank you so much for any help or ideas you can give. Your donation is 100% tax deductible. We are a 501(c13) non-profit organization!
The building is in desperate need of a new roof! The historical documents stored in the basement are starting to mold.
Organizer and beneficiary
Elizabeth Et Thomas
Organizer
Long Beach, CA
Michael Miner
Beneficiary
