Lifelines Foundation for Eating Disorders

WACO, Texas, October 26, 2005---Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home today announced it will donate $30,000 over three years to Lifelines Foundation for Eating Disorders to aid the foundation's mission of helping care for sufferers of eating disorders and educating students about symptoms and risks. The donation will make it possible for Lifelines to provide educational materials to middle schools and high schools in Texas and to train school nurses and counselors to better help students with disorders.

According to the National Eating Disorder Association, 80 percent of adolescent girls feel bad about their bodies, and 28 percent of boys are dissatisfied with their weight. An estimated 1,000 Americans will die from an eating disorder this year.

"This is a preventable tragedy," said Hatch Bailey, president and funeral director of Wilkirson-Hatch Bailey. "Lifelines fights for an extremely worthy cause--one that does not receive nearly enough financial attention. WHB hopes to set a precedent in the business world for corporate support of this fight for our young people's lives."

Last year Lifelines received enough funding to publish educational materials for 11,000 schools in Texas but was not financially able to distribute these materials. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey’s donation will cover the cost of distributing these educational packages and the cost of organizing introductory training luncheons and meetings for school nurses in each region.

State law requires that each school officially accept Lifelines' materials, but much of the campaign will involve contacting principals, PTA presidents, nurses and educational service centers to receive permission to send the packages. The materials have been approved by Shirley Neeley, commissioner of education for Texas.

Lifelines long-term goal is to raise enough money to establish an acute care facility in Texas where those suffering from eating disorders can receive proper counseling and support 24 hours a day. Currently no acute care facilities exist in Texas and the cost of care elsewhere in the United States is overwhelming for many families affected by eating disorders. United States legislation does not recognize eating disorders as mental illness, therefore insurance cannot absorb the cost of care for those suffering.

"I am so grateful to Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey for their support," said Dawn Montaner, founder of Lifelines. "People are reluctant to talk about eating disorders, but WHB has recognized the gravity of the situation and stepped up to fight against it."

A press conference is scheduled for Wednesday October 26, 2005 at Midway Junior High. The distribution of the educational materials will begin in Region 12 immediately.

About Lifelines Foundation for Eating Disorders
Founded in 1999 to raise awareness of the epidemic of eating disorders, Lifelines Foundation for Eating Disorders is determined to establish the first non-profit acute-care, long-term inpatient eating disorder facility in Texas, which will be called "The Haven." Founder Dawn Montaner, herself a mother of a child who struggled with anorexia and bulimia, works tirelessly to revise the existing laws and to ensure that medical care is available for those in need. Lifelines Foundation is the largest grassroots outreach eating disorder organization in Texas. Its resources and support allow families and victims to make accurate and informed decisions on treatment.

About Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home
For 80 years Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey has truly been a family serving families. A 50-year member by invitation of the prestigious Selected Independent Funeral Homes, founded in 1917 as National Selected Morticians (NSM), Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey strives to maintain the highest ethical and professional standards. Hatch Bailey is a former member of the Board of Directors of the International Order of the Golden Rule. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey is a founding member of The Leaders Network, which is a community of funeral leaders who aim to create successful business while providing superior value for their families, community involvement and the workplace of choice for the employees. Each employee is carefully trained to provide conscientious, efficient service in the manner and tradition established by Roy Hatch.