BALLARD-DURAND WINS THE
2009 PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE AWARD.
Ballard-Durand Funeral & Cremation Services Recognized for Outstanding Service to Families, Community by National Funeral Directors Association
White Plains, NY – On October 26, 2009, Ballard-Durand Funeral & Cremation Services was honored by the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) with the 2009 Pursuit of Excellence® Award placing them among the top two percent of all funeral firms nationwide. During its International Convention & Expo in Boston, Mass only 167 firms nationwide and abroad received this prestigious recognition for adhering to strict ethical and professional standards and for providing unsurpassed service to families and communities, placing Ballard-Durand Funeral & Cremation Services among an elite group of funeral service professionals. Ballard-Durand was one of six funeral establishments in all of New York State and the only firm ever to receive this award in Westchester County.
To achieve the Pursuit of Excellence Award, funeral homes must demonstrate proficiency in key areas of the funeral service profession by fulfilling a set number of criteria in six categories of achievement. Participants must show their commitment to: Complying with state and federal regulations; providing ongoing education and professional development opportunities for staff; offering outstanding programs and resources to bereaved families; maintaining an active level of involvement within the community; participating and actively serving in the funeral service profession; and promoting funeral home services through a variety of marketing, advertising and public relations programs.
“The needs of families are constantly evolving; they expect services that extend beyond a funeral or memorial service,” said NFDA Chief Executive Officer Christine Pepper, CAE. “The Pursuit of Excellence program provides award recipients with a unique opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to offering innovative programs and services that have a profound impact on those they serve.”
Matthew J. Fiorillo attended the NFDA’s Annual Convention in Boston, MA on October 26th, 2009 to receive the award, which was presented by NFDA President John Reed and former Marshall University head football coach, Jack Lengyel, best known as having taken over following the Southern Airways Flight 932 plane crash that killed nearly the entire team in 1970. “At Ballard-Durand Funeral & Cremation Services, we believe that a funeral should be a meaningful and healing event,” says Fiorillo. “Which is why we continually look for ways to enhance the meaning and value of a tribute. We consider it a privilege to provide the families of our community with the highest-quality service, and are proud to be recognized for that commitment.”
To learn more about NFDA’s Pursuit of Excellence Award program, visit www.nfda.org/pursuitofexcellence.
Ballard-Durand Funeral & Cremation Services is a full service funeral and cremation provider that has been serving Westchester County, NY for over 70 years. The firm offers a wide variety of commemorative choices to meet any budget and services to make planning a funeral as stress-free as possible, such as home security checks, funeral webcasting, an online memorial store, and other thoughtful touches. For more information on Ballard-Durand’s services, visit www.BallardDurand.com.
NFDA is the world’s leading funeral service association, serving 19,000 individual members who represent more than 10,200 funeral homes in the United States and internationally. From its headquarters in Brookfield, Wis., and its Advocacy office in Washington, D.C., NFDA informs, educates and advocates to help members enhance the quality of service they provide to families. For more information, on NFDA, visit www.nfda.org.
