September 30, 2003 - The Lodge of St.
Andrew Contributes $50,000 to the Masonic Angel Foundation, Inc.
Orleans, MA - The Masonic Angel Foundation, Inc. yesterday received a
contribution of $50,000 from The Lodge of St. Andrew A.F. & A.M. in Boston.
The donation to the Masonic Angel Foundation is the largest charitable gift in
the 247-year history of The Lodge of St. Andrew. For many year's, St. Andrew's
traditional charitable practice was to make anonymous contributions to start-up
or other modestly-funded charities for which a typical grant of $500 to $5,000
makes a critical difference. Due to current economic conditions and the number
of families disrupted by activation of military reservists, the Lodge chose the
Masonic Angel Fund as the program with the broadest and most responsive network
to identify and relieve the needs of Massachusetts children.
The Lodge of St. Andrew is best known for the involvement of its members in the
"Boston Tea Party" of 1773. Lodge members "are alleged" to have adjourned their
regular monthly meeting early to instigate and participate in the historic
Colonial tax uprising.
The Masonic Angel Foundation was incorporated in 2000 and operates a national
network of some sixty-six Masonic Angel Funds in seven states. A Masonic Lodge
in a community manages the Masonic Angel Fund (MAF) for that locality. It is a
charter requirement that each Masonic Angel Fund use 100% of the funds it
receives for the benefit of children in the local community. All operating
overhead of the local MAF must be borne by the sponsoring Lodge's non-charitable
funds. Eastham residents John A. Sherman and Robert W. Fellows established the
first Masonic Angel Fund at Universal Lodge (Orleans, MA) in 1998.
Some uses of The Lodge of St. Andrew's $50,000
contribution include:
"St. Andrew Matching Grants"
$5,000 of the contribution is allocated to provide $500 matching grants to the
next ten new Masonic Angel Funds in Massachusetts. These new MAF's may apply for
a grant as soon as they have raised $500 for their program. As with all other
Foundation grant programs, there is no specific form to be completed. Simply
provide the Foundation's volunteer staff with evidence that you have added $500
to a new Masonic Angel Fund and they will do the rest.
"Benevolence Building Grants"
In order to encourage constituent Massachusetts Masonic Angel Funds to be
aggressive in their benevolences, the Foundation is pleased to introduce
"Benevolence Building Grants".
From October 1, 2003 to January 31, 2004, the Benevolence Building Grant Program
will provide a 50% replenishment grant for each benevolence granted by a
Massachusetts Masonic Angel Fund. This program will continue through January 31,
2004 or until allocated funds are depleted, whichever comes first. To apply for
a Benevolence Building Grant, simply notify the Foundation each time you grant a
benevolence. The Foundation's volunteer staff will endeavor to turn around
replenishment checks approximately every two weeks.
The "St. Andrew Fund"
The portion of The Lodge of St. Andrew's donation that is not used for grant
programs will replenish the "St. Andrew Fund" that the donor Lodge established
in 2001. The St. Andrew Fund provides assistance to children in communities not
yet served by a Masonic Angel Fund. The Foundation identifies such children
through Overlook Visiting Nurses Association, military chaplains, the USO
Council of New England and various social service agencies.
Conclusion
The Foundation's officers, directors and volunteers thank The Lodge of St.
Andrew for its continued commitment to the Masonic Angel Fund program. As
before, the ultimate goal of the St. Andrew funding package is to encourage our
Massachusetts Masonic Lodges to undertake new activities and initiatives that
will make Freemasonry more vibrant and attractive to Brethren and new
candidates, as well as to serve an acute need in our communities.
Regards to all,
Robert W. Fellows, Board Secretary
Masonic Angel Foundation, Inc.