Freemasons are committed to charity and philanthropy, and they donate funds directly from their members and they hold countless fundraisers to help others. They are very involved in their local communities as donors to various charitable organizations, assisting in food drives, cancer walks, homeless shelters, community improvement projects, and they donate to support specific state and national causes annually as well as providing aid throughout the country and world that are impacted by natural disasters. The values of Freemasonry include integrity, kindness, honesty, and fairness. Their commitment to charity has a profound impact on the lives of countless individuals each year. Freemasonry stands out as an impactful contributor in the local community to charitable causes and people in need, and to causes throughout the country and world. You can also be a participant in assisting others and supporting your community or supporting the charities below.
MICHIGAN MASONIC CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
Changing Lives Through Charity
Building the Foundation
More than 100 years ago, the Grand Lodge of Michigan recognized the need for a facility to care for senior Masons and their families. In 1891, the first original Masonic Home opened near Reed’s Lake in Grand Rapids.
To meet the financial responsibilities associated with maintaining the Masonic Home, the Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation was established and supported by dedicated Masons who were determined to give life to the term “brotherhood” not only to the organization, but also to the community.
The Foundation’s charitable focus areas include Masonic assistance to Brothers and their families and supporting community organizations such as promoting literacy, education and public safety, alleviating hunger, and supporting family and youth services. Tackling immediate challenges, enriching lives and deepening the connection between Lodges and their communities is a primary goal for the Foundation.
Empowering Michigan Masons to change lives through charity.
Masonic Foundation’s Impact
The Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation improves the lives and communities of Masons by acting as a powerful philanthropic partner for Michigan’s Masonic lodges. The Foundation supports several valuable and life-changing programs such as Brotherly relief, community charities, scholarships, Child I.D. and the Masonry’s B.E.S.T. Community Grant. These programs are funded by generous donations.
It is this spirit of collaboration that has helped the Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation become one of Michigan’s preeminent foundations, ensuring that Michigan Masons will have the capacity to support both our members and our communities well into the future.
When a man supremely gives, he supremely finds.
https://michiganmasons.org/foundation/
CHARITIES OF SCOTTISH RITE FREEMASONRY
Dyslexia Centers
Helping Children reach their full potential
The Children’s Dyslexia Centers are nationally recognized for their dyslexia tutoring locations that provide intensive reading instruction for children in grades 1 through 12.
We Believe in a Child's Success
We are a dedicated organization of people who believe every child should have access to high-quality reading and writing instruction. We’re helping children to successfully meet the literacy demands in school and their future careers.
Children's Dyslexia Centers
For more than 25 years, Scottish Rite Freemasonry of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction has partnered with local communities to assist children in regaining confidence and their self-esteem through proven methods of reading instruction, tutoring, and dyslexia remediation.
https://scottishritenmj.org/charities
ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER CHARITY
The mission of the Royal Arch Research Assistance has been to help children with Central Auditory Processing Disorders (CAPD) by funding research.
50 Years of Making a Difference
Since its conception in 1974, Royal Arch Research Assistance (R.A.R.A.), has become the Leading Non-educational institution dedicated to helping children with Central Auditory Processing Disorders. R.A.R.A. does not directly fund treatment centers or hospitals, instead it focuses on funding researchers in CAPD, setting them on a lifelong career path towards conquering the disease. R.A.R.A. has special relationships with the Hearing Health Foundation and Autism Speaks whose board members suggest and vet researchers for R.A.R.A. funding.
R.A.R.A. supports research seeking the understanding of, and a cure for, Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD), understanding the relationship between CAPD and Autism, and Gaps in Noise Auditory Processing Test for Service Members.
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR CHARTY
To improve vision through research, education, and supporting access to care.
The Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc. is committed to support research that can help launch the careers of clinical and basic researchers focused on the prevention and cure of potentially blinding diseases in infants and children. Grants supported by the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc. are awarded to impact the care of infants, children, and adults. Clinical and basic research on conditions that may be potentially preventable or correctable such as amblyopia, cataract, glaucoma, optic nerve hypoplasia, nystagmus, retinopathy of prematurity, and hereditary diseases that occur at birth or within early childhood, such as retinoblastoma, is encouraged. Proposals for support of basic research on eye and visual system development also are welcome.
Each year the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc., invites eligible investigators to submit applications for pediatric ophthalmology research grants:
Career-Starter Research Grants - up to $90,000 per grant. Applicants for these grants must be at the beginning of their academic careers and must have received M.D., Ph.D. or equivalent degree.
Competitive Renewal Grants - up to $90,000 per grant to extend the original grant project for one additional year when the data collected from the original grant is compelling enough to apply.
ORDER OF EASTERN STAR CHARTIES
What We Believe
The OES mission is to make a positive difference in the world with charitable works, lasting friendships, and loving kindness to all mankind.
Who We Are
The Order of Eastern Star is an international Masonic fraternal organization where men and women share core beliefs of caring for one another, providing relief to those in need, and putting action into these beliefs.
With over 300,000 members across the globe giving millions of dollars a day and countless hours of volunteer work, we make a positive impact one day, one hour, and one dollar at a time. Join us and learn new ways to impact your world!
October 2022 to October 2023, The Michigan OES has donated
Benevolence Fund $57,600
Educational Scholarships $66,800
Service Dogs $13,000
and completed at $75,000 commitment to renovate and update the media center at the Michigan Masonic Pathways.
GRAND RAPIDS MASONIC TEMPLE ASSOICATION
The Masonic Center has an Endowment Fund that people can provide gifts to. The Masonic Temple Endowment Fund was established to provide a suitable receptacle in perpetuity for transfers and gifts made for memorial or for purposes where the contributor's intent is to make a more lasting contribution than one given to the Association for a one-time event. Gifts are provided in an undefined nature and the annual interest as well as some circumstances, the fund principle can be utilized as required by the MTA for the annual budget and special needs as they arise. Gifts of $1,000 will have a special memorial notation of one line on a name plate, and gifts of $5,000 or more will have one full name plate being provided for the Gifting person’s name. These are on permanent display at the front entryway of the building, behind the entryway main desk. Gifts are non-tax-deductible.
The Masonic Center is involved with various special building projects occurring and persons can gift towards them which includes the recent elevators replacement project that has begun. A special recognition program for those providing these gifts is being developed. Contact the MTA office to provide direct financial assistance for these programs. [email protected]
