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Freemasonry teaches us that :
The covering of a Lodge is the clouded
canopy, or starry-decked heaven, where all good Masons hope at last to
arrive, by the aid of a ladder, called Jacob’s ladder, having three
principle rounds, denominated Faith, Hope and Charity; teaching Faith
in God, Hope in immortality, and Charity to all mankind.
But the greatest of these is
Charity;
for Faith may be lost in sight, Hope
ends in fruition, but Charity extends beyond the grave, to the
boundless realms of eternity. |
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The Masonic Angel Fund™ is the
fastest-growing Masonic charity anywhere. Founded in 1998 by the members of
Universal Lodge A.F. & A.M. in Orleans, Massachusetts, the "MAF" has spread
to 94
Lodges in 11 states since it was first
licensed in the summer of 2000. The Masonic Angel Fund™ is changing
kids' lives - one community at a time, one child at a time.
The Fund provides modest assistance to
children in need who do not fit the criteria for the usual social-service
programs. Such assistance might be to provide a pair of glasses, a coat,
shoes, field trip fees or minor health services. MAF benevolences can cover
almost any need that will enhance a child's learning experience - some
Masonic Angel Funds even provide scholarships for music and fine arts
instruction. Applications for assistance will be fulfilled via confidential
requests from local school principals, counselors and school nurses.
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a child who needs a winter coat she simply makes a request to the
Trustees of the Angel Fund who will issue a check to the principal or
nurse in an appropriate amount.
In cases where professional services
are required (i.e. medical, dental, optical…etc.) the local MAF works
with the school to make available our numerous sources for services of
this nature. Some of our Masonic Brothers are health care
professionals, so there is an excellent chance we may be able to
arrange the donation of products or services.
A cornerstone of the Masonic Angel
Fund™ program is the close relationship that develops between the
local school system and the sponsoring Lodge. Because MAF standards
require that all screening of requests be performed by the school's
professional staff, the Masons are cast in a purely supportive role
rather than in one that requires them to screen and qualify every
application. This means that those who operate the local Fund can
respond very quickly once they are contacted by the school. This quick
response contrasts strongly with many "institutional" relief services
where days or weeks can elapse between the time of a request and an
answer being received. Our ability to serve the school professionals
in a rapid, efficient manner underscores the image of Masons as the
"can do" people in the community.
By June of 2002, the Foundation
projects that all Masonic Angel Funds together will have given out
over $100,000 in benevolences to children in their communities. If
current long-range projections hold, we anticipate $1,000,000 in
benevolences by the end of 2004.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PROGRAM, PLEASE VISIT OUR LINKS PAGE |
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