150th Anniversary

THE SESQUICENTENNIAL PROGRAM
MASONIC CHARITY IN OUR COMMUNITIES
By Ron Campbell, President: The Masonic Foundation of Ontario

Juvenile Diabetes, Camp Trillium, Neo-Natal Clinics, Cochlear Implants, Chemotherapy Chairs, Fibromyalgia, Children’s Wish Foundation, Epilepsy Association, Rebuilding a Church Destroyed by Fire, Kidney Dialysis Machine, Special Skills Dog, Scholarships, Local Chapters of VOICE, Ronald McDonald House, Yonge Street Mission, Cerebral Palsy, CAT Scan Machine, Drug & Alcohol Abuse, Purchase of a Wheelchair Bus, Ambulance for St. John, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Prostate Cancer Research, Visually Impaired Children, Support of Families Affected by Autism, Furnishing a Multi-faith Centre, Food Banks, Wheelchair Access Ramp, Arthritis Self-management Program – a diverse group of community requirements. What is the common thread running through these needs? Each was a fund-raising initiative identified by a Masonic District in Ontario and successfully conducted in partnership with the Masonic Foundation.

These examples of past successes form the nucleus of the Foundation’s Sesquicentennial Program to help the Masons of Ontario celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Grand Lodge by promoting a project to support a local charitable cause in each District.

The Masons of Ontario have demonstrated their ability to come together to support major projects to assist specific sectors of society in need. Project H.E.L.P., Help Nip Drugs in the Bud and HELP-2-HEAR were each a success because Masons worked in harmony towards a single goal. It must be recognized, however, that these province-wide campaigns had 46 component parts, each meshing perfectly with the others – the Districts of our Grand Jurisdiction.

A similar combined effort now faces us as we stand on the threshold of the Sesquicentennial Program. The difference this time is that each of the 46 components will be identifying and financially supporting a local project that is of great significance to the residents of that District.

Besides the cause, each District will also select what should be a realistic target for its project. By working through the Masonic Foundation, the District can ensure that donors will obtain a charitable receipt for tax purposes (usually for donations of $10 or more).

Under the Sesquicentennial Program, the District will be eligible to receive a maximum of $3,500 from the Masonic Foundation towards its project (the base $1,500, plus 25% of funds raised to a maximum of $2,000). To earn this maximum amount, the District would have to raise at least $8,000 on its own, thereby having a minimum total of $11,500 for its selected charity. This, however, should not limit the District project to that amount – if the cause

is justifiable, any additional moneys raised by the District would augment that amount and do even greater good in the community.

To give a general magnitude of the combined impact of this program, if each of the 46 Districts was to raise only $8,000 for its selected cause, citizens of Ontario with special needs would be $529,000 better off than they would have been without the Sesquicentennial Program.

An effort of this magnitude does not just happen – detailed planning and organization are the foundation stones upon which success will be built. Getting an early start in laying the groundwork for a charitable project to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of our Grand Lodge in your District is essential. Selecting several possibilities, then discussing the merits of each to arrive at a consensus project, is an excellent way to begin. Potential DDGM candidates for 2004- 05 should be actively involved in the planning stage, as it is vital that the District Deputy Grand Masters for 2003-04 and 2004-05 be in full agreement on the District charitable project to be undertaken.

Through the Sesquicentennial Program, we have a glorious opportunity to demonstrate to citizens of our community that Masons care – that Masons are good neighbours who contribute to improving the quality of life within the community. Whether you are actively involved in selecting a suitable cause, are planning to work within the District to raise funds, or are currently just an interested observer, your personal commitment is essential – it is the individual Mason, personifying the lesson of the Charity Charge, who has made every major Foundation and District campaign a success.
Get directly involved in your District project – it is a great way for you to personally celebrate 150 years of progress by Grand Lodge, and do a good deed for your community.

While the Sesquicentennial Program promises to be exciting, we must not lose sight of the other good work done by our Masonic Foundation. Aside from the local benefits that will be derived from the upcoming District projects, our society has an ever increasing need for assistance. The majority of us have limited resources to contribute to just causes. During 2004-05, much of the support given to the Foundation will likely be funneled through a specific District project. That is fine, and expected; however, this year, please do not forget your support of the general programs of the Foundation. Use the Yellow Envelope inserted in this copy of the Ontario Mason to make your personal contribution to enable the Foundation to continue to assist those members of our community less fortunate than ourselves - for the cause of good.