Grasping the subtle nuances of the interlocking relationships of Masonic organizations is a simple task compared to cataloging their expenditures. As Professor Lipson observed, "Masonic charity was secret unlike civic charity whose administration made the entire town privy to the needs of each recipient." Thus a researcher can only capture the data from formally organized and public Masonic activities, but even this doesn't tell the whole story.
For example, the Masonic Service Association quietly oversees a Hospital Visitation Program with a goal that every V.A. Hospital in the United States have a Masonic volunteer working with patients. How can a value be placed on the more than 500,000 hours a year spent on this work? It just can't be done! The best that can be achieved is to catalog that fraction of Masonic philanthropy that happens to be administered on a formal basis and to rest content in the knowledge that Masons today, as always, are seeking to provide relief for suffering humanity.
In 1990 American Masonic Philanthropy was $525 million or $1.4 million per day. It has been estimated that for 2000, formal American Masonic Philanthropy will probably exceed $2.00 million per day!
In finishing the list below, I find myself overwhelmed with the size of the list, so I will summarize it first. If you need help or knowledge in any of the following areas, then consult the list below for the location of the place to help you.
Abbott Scottish Rite Scholarship Program Provides direct grants to children and grandchildren of Scottish Rite masons, as well as members of DeMolay, Job's Daughters, Rainbow Girls, and other Masonic youth groups. Supreme Council, 33rd Degree, N.M.J. P.O. Box 519 33 Marrett Road Lexington, Massachusetts 02173 (617) 862-4410 Amaranth Diabetes Foundation (Supports research on diabetes) The Supreme Council, Order of the Amaranth Mrs. Ethel B. Fry, Supreme Secretary 2303 Murdoch Avenue Parkersburg, West Virginia 26101 (304) 485-0423 or (304) 428-1565 Camp Chicota A summer camp for underprivileged children Grand Lodge of Louisiana, Prince Hall Affiliation 1335-37 North Boulevard Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821 (504) 387-0996 Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation Supports arteriosclerosis research Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation Marion K. Crum, Executive Secretary Route 4, Box 301 Nashville, Indiana 47448 (812) 988-8655 Des Moines Masonic Christmas Day Dinner Provides Christmas Day Dinner for the community Masonic Christmas Day Dinner Masonic Temple 1011 Locus Street Des Moines, Iowa 50309 (515) 244-6011 Eastern Star Cancer Research Project Supports cancer research General Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star 1618 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-2578 (202) 667-4737 Eastern Star Training Awards for Religious Leadership Supports those who are making religious work their career General Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star 1618 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-2578 (202) 667-4737 General Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star Supports the Peace Chapel at the International Peace Garden which provides a non-denominational chapel for meditation and religious services General Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star 1618 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-2578 (202) 667-4737 George Washington Masonic National Memorial A museum and monument to our first President (and a Mason) George Washington Masonic National Memorial 101 Calahan Drive Alexandria, Virginia 22301 (703) 683-2007 George Washington University Grants Provides grants to students in the Schools of Government and Business Administration and International Affairs and matching grants for graduate students Supreme Council, 33rd Degree, Southern Jurisdiction 1733 Sixteenth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-3199 1-800-SR MASON Grotto Dentistry for the Handicapped Program Provides dental care to handicapped children Supreme Council, M.O.V.P.E.R. 34 N. Fourth Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 (614) 463-9193 Illinois Scottish Rite Nursing Scholarships Provides scholarship assistance to nursing students throughout the State of Illinois Illinois Scottish Rite Fund Illinois Council of Deliberation 915 N. Dearborn Street Chicago, Illinois 60610 (312) 787-7605 Indiana Masonic Home Foundation An endowment which supports the Indiana Masonic Home, a retirement and convalescence center. Located on 360 acres, is home for over 400 residents. P. O. Box 44210 525 North Illinois Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46224-0210 (800) 277-4643 Indianapolis Scottish Rite Foundation Supports geriatric research at the University of Indiana Medical School Indianapolis Scottish Rite Bodies 650 N. Meridian Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-1294 (317) 635-2301 International Order of Job's Daughters A organization for girls between the ages of eleven and twenty who are relatives of Master Masons Supreme Guardian Council, International Order of Job's Daughters 233 West 6th Street Papillion, Nebraska 68046 (402) 592-7987
International Order of Rainbow for Girls A organization for girls between the ages of eleven and eighteen who are daughters of Masonicor Eastern Star families or friends of such girls International Order of Rainbow for Girls P.O. Box 788 McAlester, Oklahoma 74502 (918) 423-1328 Kansas Masonic Oncology Center Provides out-patient services for cancer treatment Kansas Masonic Foundation 320 West 8th Street P.O. Box 1217 Topeka, Kansas 66601-1217 (913) 357-7646 Knights Templar Educational Foundation Provides students with low-cost education loans 5097 Elston Ave, Suite 101 Chicago, Illinois 60630-2460 (312) 427-5670 Knights Templar Eye Foundation Supports eye surgery and prescription glasses P.O. Box 579 Springfield, Illinois 62705-0579 (217) 523-3838 Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center Provides treatment for cancer patients and supports research Masonic Cancer Center Fund, Inc. 1700 West Highway 36, Suite 120 Roseville, Minnesota 55113 (612)639-8433 Masonic Hospital Visitation Program Provides Masonic volunteers to work with patients at Veterans Administration and military hospitals Masonic Services Association of the United States 8120 Fenton Street Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 (301) 588-4010 Masonic Medical Research Laboratory, Utica, New York Supports research in heart disease, cancer, aging, hypertension, and blood substitutes 2150 Bleeker Street Utica, New York 13501-1787 (315) 735-2217 (website) Masonic Memorial Auditorium, International Peace Garden Provides meeting and performance facilities for visitors Grand Lodge of North Dakota 201 14th Avenue North Fargo, North Dakota 58102 (701) 235-8321 Masonic Services Association of the United States Serves as a clearing house for Masonic information National Masonic Foundation for the Prevention of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Among Children Supports education for youth about drugs and alcohol 1629 K Street N.W., Suite 606 Washington, D.C. 20006 (202) 331-1933 Ohio Special Olympics The Masonic Grand Lodge of Ohio sponsors every Ohio Special Olympian at these games Grand Lodge of Ohio P.O. Box 629 Worthington, Ohio 43085-0629 (614) 885-5318 Order of DeMolay A fraternal organization for boys between the ages of thirteen and
twenty-one; its purpose is the encouragement and development of good citizenship and sound character International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay 10200 N. Executive Hills Boulevard P.O. Box 901342 Kansas City, Missouri 64190-1342 (816) 891-8333 Research In Schizophrenia Supports research into the causes and treatment of schizophrenia and related disorders Supreme Council, 33rd Degree, N.M.J. P.O. Box 519 33 Marrett Road Lexington, Massachusetts 02173 (617) 862-4410 Royal Arch Research Assistance Program Supports research into auditory perception disorders in children General Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons International 111 South 4th Street Danville, Kentucky 40423-0489 (606) 236-0757 Scottish Rite Children's Medical Center in Georgia Provides generalized and specialized services to children Scottish Rites Children's Medical Center 1001 Johnson Ferry Road, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30363 (404) 256-5252 Scottish Rite Museum of Our National Heritage A museum and library focusing on our American heritage as well as Freemasonry's role in the history of our country Supreme Council, 33rd Degree, N.M.J. P.O. Box 519 33 Marrett Road Lexington, Massachusetts 02173 (617) 862-4410 Scottish Rite Supreme Council Library The first public library in the District of Columbia which today serves the general public as well as international Masonic scholars Supreme Council, 33rd Degree, Southern Jurisdiction 1733 Sixteenth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-3199 1-800-SR MASON Shepherd Scholarship Supports students seeking degrees in fields associated with service to country and humanity Shriners Hospitals for Children and Shriners Burn Institutes Provides orthopedic services to children through a network of 22 hospitals and treatment for burns victims at three burns centers, also provides specialized medical services for spinal cord injuries, and cleft palates. Direct phone to Shriners Hospitals for Children (USA) 800-237-5055 Shriner Headquarters 2900 Rocky Point Drive Tampa, Florida 33607 [USA - (800) 282-9161 ] [Canada - (800) 361-7256] [All other areas call collect - (813) 281-0300] Tall Cedar Foundation Supports the Muscular Dystrophy Association Supreme Forest, Tall Cedars of Lebanon 2609 N. Front Street Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110 (717) 232-5991 Tennessee and Alabama Scottish Rite Shoe Program Provides new shoes for need Tennessee and Alabama children Chattanooga Scottish Rite Bodies 510 Uptain Building Chattanooga, Tennessee 37411-4031 (615) 855-0175 Birmingham Scottish Rite Bodies 400 Valley Avenue Birmingham, Alabama 35209-3899 (205) 942-2687 Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children Provides orthopedic, neuralgic, and child development services to children in Texas Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children 2222 Welborn Street Dallas, Texas 75219-9982 (214) 521-3168 Masons Assisting Children (MAC) Provides needy homeless children in the school district with clothing and toiletries Masons Assisting Children 2200 West Mesquite Las Vegas, Nevada 89106 Scottish Rite Foundation Operates a clinic for dyslexic and aphasia disorders in children Scottish Rite Foundation 2200 West Mesquite Las Vegas, Nevada 89106