Three local entities up for Masonic funds
HOLDEN, Maine — The Masonic Charitable Foundation of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Maine has announced the nomination of a number of 501(C)3 tax-exempt organizations to receive $2,000 grants. The nominations were made by Freemasons interested in helping worthy causes in their local communities.
The nominees include groups concerned with animal welfare, education, elder care, food and energy assistance, health and hospice, historic preservation and library services.
Local nominees for Masonic District 1 of Aroostook County include the Francis Malcolm Science Center of Easton; the Aroostook Teen Leadership Camp of Caribou; and the Salvation Army of Houlton.
Grants will be awarded in February to one tax-exempt organization in each of the state’s 24 districts, based upon votes cast on the Charitable Foundation website www.MasonicCharitableFoundation.org. Voting began Friday, Jan. 15, and will take place until Sunday, Jan. 31. Everyone may vote once per day.
All Mainers are urged to vote for their favorite charitable cause. Voters may choose from the three nominated or write in their own nominee. Everyone is also invited to urge friends and neighbors to visit the Charitable Foundation website to cast ballots in support of their favorite eligible organization and to pread the word by email, newsletter, Facebook, Twitter or other approaches.
This is the second year the Masonic Charitable Foundation has offered these public grants. Maine Freemasons also serve their communities by offering the popular Bikes for Books, youth activity, community betterment, Project Graduation and relief programs, and by supporting the Maine Masonic College, library and museum and many other activities.
Taken together, the Foundation’s charitable initiatives total nearly $400,000 per year. North American Freemasons donate some $3,000,000 per day, every day, to benefit society. Masons operate the Shriners burn institutes and orthopedic hospitals; host dyslexic learning centers like those in Portland and Bangor; conduct heart, cancer, eye and schizophrenic research; operate Masonic homes and health care networks; award scholarships; and support enumerable other programs that improve the quality of life and society.
Questions about this grant program may be addressed to Mark Rustin, the Grand Secretary, at (207) 843-1086 or grandsecretary@mainemason.org.
