October 2, 2003 - Masonic Angel
Foundation Special Broadcast
"Boston First
Fund - Making a Difference in the Hub"
Dear friend of the Masonic Angel Fund:
We are pleased to announce three donations to the Boston First Fund totaling
$7,000. Last week contributions were received from The Lodge of St. Andrew
($5,000), The Massachusetts Lodge ($1,000) and St. John's Lodge ($1,000).
The Boston First Fund is a partnership license Masonic Angel Fund established
and funded by Lodges in the First Masonic District of Massachusetts. The BFF was
organized by the First District's DDGM R.W. David Howard and Wor. Robert
Shaughnessey of Mt. Lebanon Lodge. It serves children in the immediate Boston
area and is administered by the volunteer staff of the Masonic Angel Foundation.
Right on the heels of last week's donations came a benevolence request from
Tri-County Youth Programs, a social service agency that works with Masonic
Angel Funds in eastern Massachusetts. The story was well-presented by caseworker
Amanda Benyo:
"One young boy in our program has to move to another new foster home on
Tuesday (tomorrow). Miraculously we were able to find a placement where he and
his older sister can remain together and remain in the city of Boston, however
the placement is outside of the zone which his school, The Trotter school is in
and it would mean he would have to switch schools for the second time in less
than a year. This boy is doing better in this school than he has ever done
anywhere else, and I am reluctant to make a change for him when he is doing so
well. Additionally, this boy is in the Technology Goes Home program, which is a
program for kids to learn to use computers as a part of their every day school
program, and he is really enjoying working with computers and getting to do some
different things in school. Finally this boy's goal with DSS is adoption and
there may be a family appropriate for him and his sister. However, the family
lives outside of Massachusetts. So if this boy switches schools now he has the
possibility of having to switch schools again in the near future. Stability is a
precious thing when you are a foster child. I know that if I can promise to get
this boy transportation he can stay at the Trotter. The problem is that I can't
seem to work anything out for the mornings. The afternoons are taken care of, he
takes a bus from Trotter to the Shelburne after school program, and then his
foster parent can pick him up from there. Would the Masonic Angel Fund be able
to support some transportation for this boy to get to school in the mornings? "
Ms. Benyo was able to secure safe transportation for this nine-year-old boy at a
cost of $40 per week. The Boston First Fund has provided $480 to transport the
youngster to school until Christmas vacation. At that time Tri-County will know
where his adoption stands and we can re-evaluate the situation.
This benevolence is an excellent example of where we "catch" a kid who has
fallen through the cracks. The very resourceful caseworker found a solution to
virtually every challenge facing this boy's situation except for his morning
transport to school. With the BFF's $480 we are able to complete the circle for
this child by keeping him in a successful school environment and keeping his
adoption cycle on track.
It is truly moving to know what a mere $480 can do to help the right child at
the right time.
The caseworkers at Tri-County Youth Programs asked me to pass on to the Masons
of the First Masonic District - and to all "Masonic Angels" - their sincere
thanks for all MAF has done to help the children they serve.
The Boston First Fund is truly making a difference!
Regards to all,
Robert W. Fellows, Co-Founder/Board Secretary