FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 1, 2023

Akron & Toledo, OH –– As of March 1st, The Final Farewell Project of Summit County and Compassionate Grace of Northern Ohio will merge together as one organization providing combined service to the communities of both regions. This merger will increase impact and community benefit to provide essential and critical support to families in some of their most vulnerable times.

Currently, The Final Farewell Project covers Summit county and surrounding communities in NE Ohio, and Compassionate Grace of Northern Ohio covers NW Ohio which includes all countries west to the Indiana border and east to Sandusky,

Leaders of both organizations are excited about the opportunity this brings to offer services to most of Northern Ohio communities expanding its reach and impact. The Final Farewell Project provides funeral and burial assistance to individuals and families unable to meet the financial burden; Compassionate Grade assists caregivers of people living with a serious or terminal illness, kinship caregiver support, and a new program offering support to families impacted by gun violence. This new stronger organization will be able to support more families with a greater level of compassion and dignity than the two organizations independently provided.

With this merger, also comes the announcement of The Final Farewell Project’s Executive Director’s departure. “Executive Director, Christopher Blue-McMahon stated, that he has had the honor to serve the families of Summit County and the surrounding communities. Chris wishes that he could keep The Final Farewell project moving forward, but will be taking his knowledge and talents to a local association as the Director of Ways & Means, and in June 2023 will be opening his Family & Peer support services, Accession Outreach Center in Summit County. Chris thanks the individuals over the past 2 and half years that he has worked with and is happy to sign over the organization back to the Founder, Dorene Sherman of Toledo, Ohio.

 The new organization’s Board of Directors will meet soon to organize itself and will explore a new name that represents the new mission and the collective histories of both organizations. “This is an exciting time for not only both organizations but also myself. I founded the Final Farewell Project while living in Summit County and now I have the opportunity to serve both communities by doing the work that means a great deal to me. This is quite humbling.” shared Dorene Sherman, Executive Director of the merged organization. The Board of Directors are excited about the newer and great impact and benefit the organization will provide to northern Ohio.

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