2012 Outreach Brochure Booklet

Missouri Outreach Programs

We are where you are

Overview of Programs The Masonic Home of Missouri began to • The Long-Term Financial Assistance move in a new direction when the Outreach Program provides financial assistance Program started in 1991. At that time, for longer time periods for such things the Masonic Home’s Board of Directors as assisted living care. recognized that the Masonic Home of Missouri could assist Missouri Masons, • The Short-Term Financial Assistance wives, widows and female members of the Program provides limited financial asOrder of the Eastern Star throughout the sistance, such as help with one-time state in their own communities. medical needs.

The Outreach Program began as one • The Children’s Financial Assistance program, a financial assistance program, Program provides financial assistance but it has now evolved into eight (8) distinct to legal dependents of Missouri Master programs. The Outreach Programs consist Masons or Missouri female members of of four (4) financial programs and four (4) the Order of the Eastern Star. non-financial programs. The following four (4) programs provide direct financial • The Creating-A-Partnership Program support: (CAP) is a matching funds program

that creates a partnership between the Masonic Home and the Lodges/ Chapters to assist children in their communities.

The following four (4) programs were designed to meet the needs of members in their communities that may not require financial assistance: • The Masonic Family Cares Program helps facilitate connections between lodges, chapters, youth organizations and the Masonic brothers and sisters in their communities.

• The Social Services Program helps individuals locate services throughout the state.

• The Widows Program was developed to bring Masonic Widows, the local Masonic Home Representatives, and the Masonic Home of Missouri together to recognize and assist our Masonic Widows.

• The Financial Counseling Program will work in conjunction with the Financial Assistance Programs to help our members learn skills, such as budgeting and debt management.

To learn more about the Outreach Programs, please contact the Masonic Home of Missouri at (800) 434-9804 or visit our website at www.mohome.org.

We are where you are.

The Long -Term Financial Assistance Outreach Program The Masonic Home of Missouri is able to provide eligible senior adults with financial assistance to remain in their homes, apartments, independent living facilities, and assisted living facilities.

Some applicants qualify for long-term monthly assistance, while others may only need assistance with individual payments, such as medical bills, hearing aids, or dental work.

To qualify for financial assistance, applicants must be a Missouri Master Mason, their wife/widow or a female member of the Order of the Eastern Star in good standing. Age and Length of

membership is reveiwed on all applicants.

In addition, applicants must complete a financial application to demonstrate a financial need. All inquiries are given prompt attention.

Age and Length of Membership Requirements

The Short -Term Financial Assistance Outreach Program The Outreach Program is also able to provide short-term assistance to eligible adults who are experiencing unforeseen hardship, and it is designed to help individuals while they are helping themselves out of difficult situations.

Short-term financial aid may help them through a medical emergency, with dental work or eyeglasses, or even with living costs for a month or two.

As with the Long-Term Financial Assistance Program, there are Age and Length of Membership guidelines which are reviewed on all applicants. Applicants must be a Missouri Master Mason, their

wife/widow or a female member of the Order of the Eastern Star in good standing and complete a financial application to demonstrate a financial need.

Age and Length of Membership Requirements

Children’s Financial Assistance Outreach Program Established in 2003, the Children’s Outreach Program provides financial assistance to legal dependents of Missouri Master Masons or Missouri female members of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Assistance provided through this program may help with medical care and services such as dental, hearing, vision, therapy, and equipment.

This program alleviates the financial strain on parents who may have health insurance, but are struggling to afford co-payments and other medical expenses not covered by insurance. The flexibility of the Children’s

Outreach Program makes it possible for parents to seek services in their own communities.

Applying for Assistance The parents or legal guardians of the child must demonstrate a financial need and should complete the application on the child’s behalf. Once an applicant’s information is received, the Outreach staff will contact the guardian to obtain additional information. All inquiries are given prompt attention. Age & Length of Membership is reviewed on all applicants.

Age and Length of Membership guidelines: • Legal dependent of Missouri Master Mason or female member of the Order of the Eastern Star in good standing at the time of application.

• Legal dependent must be: –21 years of age or younger, or –over the age of 21 with a physical or mental disability.

Creating-A-Partnership Outreach Program Creating-A-Partnership (CAP) is a matching funds program that allows the Masonic Home of Missouri to partner with Missouri Lodges and Chapters to help children in need throughout the state. The Masonic Home of Missouri may match up to $2,500 per Lodge or Chapter each fiscal year.

Individual Child/Children Lodges and Chapters can work within their community to identify a child or children in need (i.e. through schools or local community organizations/families). Assistance can help to provide clothing, school sup-

plies, coats, shoes, hats and gloves, hygiene items, eye glasses, dental work, etc.

Project-Based Lodges and Chapters can identify projects within their communities through charitable or other non-profit organizations, such as schools. Recipients of the CAP ProjectBased funds must be 501(c)(3) public charitable organizations, as defined by the IRS, or public entities such as school districts.

An example of a project that may qualify is the backpack food program found in

communities statewide which provides food for needy schoolchildren.

Matching funds must go toward the purchase of a specific item(s). The Masonic Home will not match funds for general operating expenses.

Completing the Application Once a need has been identified, the Lodge/Chapter must complete and submit an application and worksheet.

The application can be accessed on the Masonic Home of Missouri’s website at www.mohome.org or mailed upon request.

Once items are purchased the Lodge/ Chapter will be responsible for providing

a copy of the receipt(s) showing how funds were spent. The Lodge/Chapter will not be able to make additional requests until all receipts are received. The Masonic Home will not reimburse for purchases already made. Purchases must be made within five (5) days of receiving funds.

Tax exemption certification will be provided for purchase.

Masonic Family Cares Outreach Program Masonic Family Cares is a program that helps facilitate connections between Lodges, Chapters and youth organizations, and the Masonic brothers and sisters in their communities.

This program is a great opportunity to connect with those members within your communities who might not be able to attend Lodge/Chapter meetings or a widow who would benefit from seeing a friendly face.

If your Lodge or Chapter is already participating and doing these great works within your community, please share your

stories with us. Contact our Membership Relations Specialist at (800) 434-9804 about how your Lodge or Chapter is making a difference.

If you are trying to find ways to reach out to those members amongst you, please contact our Masonic Family Cares Coordinator at (800) 434-9804.

Social Services Outreach Program The Masonic Home of Missouri helps individuals locate services throughout the state. When Missouri Master Masons, their wives, widows and female members of the Order of the Eastern Star apply for help through the Financial Assistance Programs, the staff completes an application with the client.

In addition to determining financial need, the caseworker helps the client identify additional assistance available through other organizations and agencies. This information is also available to those individuals that do not require financial assistance, but may need help locating services.

The Masonic Home maintains a list of agencies and resources specific to each Masonic District state-wide, and this information is provided to the membership bi-annually and will soon be provided on the website at www.mohome.org.

Widows Outreach Program The Masonic Home provides Masonic widows with information regarding our programs and services. In an effort to bring widows and the local Masonic Home Representative together, the Masonic Home began scheduling luncheons throughout the state.

The Masonic Home honors these ladies with a special pin and provides a widows card listing her late husband’s Masonic record should she ever need assistance from the Masonic Home.

If you are a Masonic widow and have not been contacted by the Masonic Home, please contact us at (800) 434-9804. We would enjoy keeping you updated on Masonic Home happenings and provide a link to a Masonic Lodge, if needed.

Financial Counseling Program The economic downturn has caused financial distress for people all across the country. The financial distress is caused by a multitude of reasons, such as loss of employment or unexpected health issues.

Sometimes financial education is needed in conjunction with financial assistance.

It is anticipated that many of the Financial Assistance clients will be referred to the Financial Counseling Program to help our members learn skills, such as budgeting and debt management.

The Financial Counseling Program can also assist members and widows planning to make major changes to their lifestyles, such as moving to an assisted living facility,

by helping to look at income, assets, and possible additional sources of income.

The Financial Counseling Program will begin working with Master Masons, the wife or widow of a Master Mason, and female members of the Order of the Eastern Star who have applied for or are receiving assistance through the Masonic Home’s Financial Assistance Programs.

Unlike the Financial Assistance Programs, the Financial Counseling Program does not have Age & Length of Membership guidelines.

How We Do It & How You Can Help!

The mission of the Masonic Home of Missouri is “To assist eligible adults and children in need by practicing the principles of Freemasonry�. We provide assistance, whether financial, resources, or moral support in communities throughout the State of Missouri.

We pride ourselves on being a durable organization with strong beliefs and a commitment to our clients and donors.

Funding for our programs comes from donations, planned giving, bequests, memorials, special events, fundraising and investment income. Only through the continued support of our donors, Lodges,

Chapters, and Board of Directors can we continue to reach out into communities and help our brethren, widows, and children.

Without the financial support of our donors, we would have to limit our services.

Our annual assistance provided for the past years is available on our website at www.mohome.org for all to see.

The Home spends 100% of each unrestricted dollar given to the organization on direct assistance to our clients. However, donations alone do not cover the assistance provided. The remaining assistance, other program costs, and all administrative costs

are paid for with investment and other income.

Protecting our donor dollar and providing assistance to our clients is of utmost importance within our model of operations. A copy of our IRS Form 990 and Annual Report are available on-line at www. mohome.org.

Supporting, educating, volunteering, referring, and helping us get the word out about our services are just a few of the ways that you can support the Missouri Outreach Programs. We are always looking for enthusiatic people who want to make a difference in other people’s lives. We have many opportunities for you to become involved in our mission and programs.

Our volunteers assist us by preparing for mailings to our Masons, widows, and

families.

We also offer opportunities for our volunteers to help us with organizing luncheons, trainings and fundraisers in their areas. No one knows better about the best meeting locations than the people who live in the area.

There are many ways for you to become involved in the programs that we offer. To find out how you can make a difference, contact us at (800) 434-9804 or visit our website at www. mohome.org.

Make a Difference!

Truman Club Donor Recognition Program Harry S Truman exemplified the tenets of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. In honor of his commitment to the Masonic Home of Missouri in the fulfillment of these tenets, it is appropriate that those who are dedicated to the mission of the Masonic Home be banded together in a donor society named in his honor - The Truman Club.

The Truman Club recognizes those individuals and couples who support the Masonic Home and its programs through on-going annual giving. With the support of Truman Club members, we are able to transform the Masonic tenets into reality for Masonic brothers and sisters in need

throughout the state. There are two membership categories within the Truman Club: Annual Membership - requires giving of at least $100 during the calendar year.

Annual memberships are renewable on January 1st of each year. All annual members receive the Truman Club Lapel pin and an invitation to the annual blacktie Truman Club Dinner.

Lifetime Membership - once an individual or couple’s cumulative giving reaches $1,000.00, they become lifetime members

and receive the distinctive Harry S Truman Bust symbolizing the enduring legacy made possible by their giving. Once a lifetime member, donors have the opportunity to join one of seven giving societies based on their on-going donations or pledges.

Each society is named after one of Missouri’s most illustrious Masons (see chart). Each year, the Masonic Home hosts a black-tie

event to recognize new members and honor all who have made a commitment to the Masonic Home through their on-going giving with the presentation of Truman Club Busts and/or society level pins.

For information on joining us, please contact our Fund Development Office at (573) 814-4663 or (800) 434-9804.

Square & Compass Courtyard Recognition Program The Square and Compass Courtyard is a unique area located at the Masonic Complex in Columbia, where you, your Masonic Lodge or Eastern Star Chapter can show your Masonic support by having your name engraved in one of the paver stones, tables, or benches. The opportunity is open to anyone wishing to show dedication to preserving a piece of Masonic history.

When you make a donation to the Masonic Home of Missouri’s Square & Compass Courtyard, your personalized stone will be cut from high quality granite and laser cut for clean, long-lasting engraving.

Tables and benches placed throughout our beautiful courtyard can also be engraved.

If you wish to have a stone, table, or bench engraved for your Lodge, Chapter, in honor or in memory of a loved one, or for yourself, please contact our Donor Relations Specialist at (800) 434-9804 with any questions.

Honor someone with a lasting impression.

Ways to Reach Us! Our mailing address:

Masonic Home of Missouri 6033 Masonic Drive, Suite A Columbia, MO 65202

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(573) 814-4663 phone (573) 814-4660 fax (800) 434-9804 toll free

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www.mohome.org

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You can see our recent editions of the “Missouri Outreach” magazine on our website.

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