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DonovanBest
Donovan Best, 9, was taken off life support Sunday after a crash on State Route 16 in Pierce County where he was ejected from the car. (Photo courtesy KING 5)

R&D listeners donate over $8,000 to bury 9-year-old crash victim

BY Libby Denkmann  on March 21, 2013 @ 3:15 pm (Updated: 3:06 pm - 3/22/13 )

Update: Ron and Don Show listeners had donated $8,363 via Paypal to pay for a proper burial for 9-year-old Donovan Best. Listen to the Ron & Don Show Friday afternoon for an update on the fundraising effort.

"Donovan was a very go-getting little kid. He was an exceptional young boy. He was in Karate. He was active in sports. We would have family gatherings and play badminton, and you were lucky to have him on your team."

Donovan Best's great uncle, Dale Lewandowski, gets emotional when he talks about the little boy. "He touched everybody he knew."

Donovan, 9, was taken off life support Sunday after a crash on State Route 16 in Pierce County where he was ejected from the car. Donovan's 8-year-old sister was also in the vehicle and crawled out of the wreckage to flag down help. She was unharmed.

The memorial for Donovan Best is planned for this Sunday, at 1:00 PM in the Garden Chapel of Mountain View Funeral Home in Lakewood.

However, The Ron and Don Show has learned that the family is struggling financially to pay for the burial of their son. On Thursday, Don announced a fundraiser to cover the costs for Donovan's memorial and remove this extra burden during the family's time of grief.

If you would like to help, please donate to Crimestoppers of Tacoma-Pierce County via their PayPal page. Hit the "Donate" button in the upper-right hand of the page. You can also mail checks to Crimestoppers of Tacoma-Pierce County 6824 19th St. W. #139 in University Place, WA 98466

"The money will go to Crimestoppers of Tacoma-Pierce County, who will get this directly to Mountain View Funeral Home," Don pointed out.

The funeral costs for Donovan are as follows:
Burial Plot: $1576
Pastor $300
Casket $1061
Flowers $500
Clothes for burial $60
Obituary $416
Vault (to fit a smaller child-sized casket) $1006
Sunday Cemetery $500
Funeral Director $300
TOTAL $5,720

Don said, "A parent should never have to bury a child. I never want to have to bury (my son). It's hard to put into words the way that we feel about this."

"He had a lot of potential. It's just sad that was all taken away," Dale said.

Libby Denkmann, Ron & Don Show Producer
Libby Denkmann is producer of KIRO Radio's The Ron & Don Show (weekdays 3-7). Libby is always on the run - literally.
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Comments (5)


  • Add A Comment

  • Tyrone DeVille wrote...
    ALL THEY NEED TO DO IS!
    March 21, 2013 4:55 pm
    Get Killer Jaycee Randle's "Crew" together, and raise the money! What is interesting, is that according to Jaycee, when informed about the condition of the children in his car, denied that there were any children in his car?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Ree wrote...
    So sad
    March 21, 2013 6:05 pm
    I was going home after work today, listening to the Ron and Don show, cutting through Purdy to get some teriyaki, when I passed a cross on the side of the road that wasn't there last week. It had a big mylar balloon and flowers, etc., and I realized this must be where the accident happened that killed that poor little boy. Not ten seconds later I heard on the show that the family couldn't afford to bury little Donovan. Although I have issues with decisions that were made that night, Donovan deserves to be laid to rest with family. I've made a donation.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RAH wrote...
    Family COULD afford at least SOME of the burial costs....
    March 22, 2013 9:53 am
    ....if they held off for awhile on the tequila & weed. Not meaning any disrespect to Donovan, but taking over this family's responsibilities only serves to further this sentiment for future tragedies, God help us. How's this?......have Jayce drop ALL his coin to cover as much as possible of the expense that he created: empty his weed and tequila piggy bank, sell what's left of his hot rod, and THEN raise the difference needed to give Donovan the security he was denied in this life.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • deltta wrote...
    Just another ron and don pr stunt
    March 22, 2013 10:21 am
    It's very sad that an innocent child was killed by a family member. But there are low income familys that have to deal with tragedy all the time. Do r&d run out and help them? Maybe......But help is on the way if it's a high profile media event and can be used to prop up a below average radio show.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Norse of Course wrote...
    If you don't agree with helping, then don't.
    March 22, 2013 10:46 am
    I really don't see why it matters that Ron and Don wanted to help this family. They threw the information out there and the Ron and Don Nation responded. If you don't like Ron and Don, change the station. It's THAT easy. RIP little man.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }