Car wash raises money for activist’s funeral

Washington state motorists contributed as much as $100 a piece

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updated 5:54 p.m. ET June 25, 2009

PARKLAND, Wash. - A lack of money to cover funeral expenses for a community activist in Washington state has prompted her family and friends to raise money in a manner familiar to neighborhood organizations: They held a car wash and bake sale.

Moni Hoy, who once worked with Yolanda Ramos at a neighborhood safety program called Safe Streets, says Tuesday's fundraising efforts yielded about $1,100. The News Tribune of Tacoma says motorists contributed as much as $100 apiece.

Ramos, a 43-year-old single mother of seven, died June 16.

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The family still needs about $1,300 to pay the $4,000 cost of a service and burial planned for Saturday.