APRIL 23 UPDATE:
Since our reporting last week about Evelyn Mount's grandson raising money to buy the northern Nevada philanthropist a headstone, the community has shown an outpouring of support.
Mount passed away at the age of 96 in 2022, without a headstone for her grave.
For years, in the headstone's place, there was a single piece of wood with her name on it, marking where she was laid to rest, next to her husband.
A GoFundMe was set up to raise $3,000 for a headstone to match her husband's. Since we posted this story, 2 News Nevada viewers stepped up and donated almost double the amount asked for, reaching over $7,000.
A huge thank you from us goes out from us to you.
Her adopted son and biological grandson told us how the generosity of the community made him feel.
"I felt overwhelmed with joy," said Al Small-Mount. "It was something to see. The action came in so quickly, the response came in so quickly, everybody moved so quickly, and the precision was just there, and I'm greatly appreciative of everything Channel 2 News and the City of Reno have done for my grandmother to help me and my family get this gravestone for her, so I'm really thankful for that."
He told us that seeing how passionate the community was to give back to his grandmother, who helped the City of Reno for 45 years, didn't surprise him at all.
"My grandmother has been around in Reno for so long, and she did so many things for so many different people, so I kind of understood the mission, and I believe that the City of Reno did because you see exactly what happened and how that turned out."
Since the GoFundMe surpassed the expected amount, we asked where the excess donations are going.
"The first thing I did already was, I contacted the City of Reno Parks and Recreation Director about donating to the Evelyn Mount Community Center. I was going to put half into the community center there, and the rest of it was going to go to programs here in North Carolina where I'm at, and that's exactly what I was going to do," he said.
Since Evelyn Mount is buried next to her husband, the family wanted them to have matching headstones, but the family decided to make their grandmothers' extra special.
"When you see it, you'll know exactly what I mean," said Small-Mount. "It's a beautiful stone, and I'm just thankful it came through the way that it did."
Small-Mount says he has a lot to say to the community, but he tells us it really comes down to giving the community a huge thank you.
"First and foremost, to all the families, to everybody that pitched in, you know, I don't mind saying this. I don't care what the amount was; every single bit of it was a great help. I'm trying to hold back emotions right now, but I'm thankful for the City of Reno, and I'm also thankful for my grandmother for having such a great legacy and having so many memorable moments for so many different people. I look on the website where you guys posted, and I can see so many different stories, and it means so much to me. So I want to say thank you to everyone for their support, their love, and their donations in this time. Thank you so much."
As for next steps, he encourages philanthropic service to the community to continue.
"To keep building the community together, even though I'm not in Nevada, it does not mean that I'm not part of the community. I still have kids that live in Reno. I still have family that lives in Reno, and I plan on continuing my ties that I have in Reno and continuing my relationships in Reno. As for me, I'm going to continue to coach soccer and football here in North Carolina. I'm also coaching in a middle school here, but whenever Reno calls, just know I will be able to answer," he said.
Small-Mount also adds one last statement for the community.
"Thank you again. My grandmother, she always loved the City of Reno, and I see now just how much the City of Reno loves her back. Thank you so much for your love and your support to my grandmother, Evelyn Mount. I'm just so thankful for every single person; even if you didn't give, but you still had the heart through thought, I'm thankful for you as well, so thank you."
APRIL 20 UPDATE:
Donations are pouring in after we aired a story on Evelyn Mount's grandson raising money for a headstone for her gravesite.
Before we aired the story on Friday, her GoFundMe account had earned about $100, but after her grandson Al told us about his efforts to get Evelyn a headstone next to her husband, her account has now raised more than $6,300 - about $3,000 more than the family had initially asked for.
You can donate here -
ORIGINAL ARTICLE (APRIL 17)
Reno philanthropist Evelyn Mount died in 2022 at the age of 96. She was known for her decades of helping to feed Northern Nevada's residents.
She founded the Evelyn Mount Community Outreach Program, providing thousands of meals to low-income seniors and families.
While a hero in the community, her grandson noticed her grave did not have a headstone to remember her by after getting a phone call from his family members.
Al Small-Mount, Evelyn Mounts' grandson, told us, "They let me know the situation. They showed me a couple of pictures of the gravesite, and it kind of affected me immediately because I was raised by my grandmother from 4 months old all the way up until I was 18 years old. I saw that and wanted to go right into action because that's what she would do for someone else in need."
In her honor, and also to match her husband, who is buried next to her, a GoFundMe was started by her grandson to raise enough to get her a headstone for her grave to honor her properly.
Right now, what is marking her grave is a single piece of wood with her name on it. You can find the link to the GoFundMe by clicking this link.
Mount adopted Al Small-Mount at four months old and was not only his biological grandmother but also his legal mother, making them extremely close.
"I've taken everything that I've learned from my grandmother, and I've implemented it out here in the community here in Gilford County, so I really want to see if I can get this done because it means a lot to me, and I know it would mean a lot to my family as well."
Mount spent 45 years helping the community. Her grandson says he thinks her greatest achievement, aside from going on the Rosie O'Donnell show in 1996, was in 2009 when a YMCA community center was renamed to the Evelyn Mount Community Center.
"So I feel like she's done some really huge things in the City of Reno that should be known and out there for the world, even YouTube or things of that sort. I think everyone should know exactly what she's done."
The GoFundMe's goal is to raise $3,000, so she and her husband can have similar headstones together.
Al Small-Mount says, "The heart that she had—I want them to remember her heart...just the caring aspect of things. She really cared for others more than she cared for herself. I literally watched my grandmother get her knees replaced, and the next day she was up and at it, worried about the people of Reno."
He goes on to say, "I have recordings of my grandmother talking about the City of Reno changing her life, and I just want the people of Reno to remember the heart that she had for the city."
He also wants the community to know, "You know it's not about looking for the help for her or because of what she's done. Honestly, I would look for them to help out of the kindness of their hearts. Yes, she has done a lot. I know times have changed and things are different, but if they're willing and able, then I ask that they can."
Again, you can donate to her GoFundMe by clicking the link here.
