MASONS SPONSOR BACK TO SCHOOL FUN FAIR
Back to School Fun Fair. The Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master and Grand Secretary join hands to assist Naval Lodge No. 4 members David Johnson (L), WB Dalton West (C), and Michael Webb (R).
Masons Sponsor Back to School Fun Fair by Dalton West,
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n Friday, September 29th, 2006, Naval Lodge No. 4 and Washington Daylight Lodge No. 14 sponsored their first “Back to School Fun Fair” for several schools in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The effort was a resounding success and plans are now being made by other lodges in the jurisdiction to hold similar events. The lead organization for the affair was the Capitol Hill Cluster School (CHCS) Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), an association in which some members of Naval Lodge hold membership. This first Fun Fair was a community event that offered fun, food and amusements for about 2,000 Cluster School children and parents. The goal of the effort was to create awareness of the importance of public education in the neighborhood as well as to cultivate an environment which will encourage parents to take more active roles in the education of their children. The Fun Fair also sought to engage Naval and Washington Daylight Lodges in an effort that would establish the concern of Freemasonry for the community. Specifically, these lodges sought to undergird public education and child safety by raising funds for the school libraries and by implementation of Freemasonry’s CHIP (Child Identification Program) program.
P.M., Naval Lodge No. 4
More than $5,000.00 was raised during the fair for the libraries of the eight public elementary and middle school libraries in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Businesses in the local community and the greater metropolitan DC area were contacted for sponsorship opportunities (monetary or in-kind donations). The bulk of the funds necessary for the project, however, was provided by sponsoring lodges and by the Scottish Rite bodies of Washington, D.C. The Fun Fair took place on the campus of Watkins Elementary School, located at 420 12th St., SE, on Friday afternoon, opening after the close of school and ending at sundown. Gratefully, mother nature, after some initial threats, became benevolently tolerant, and splendid weather was enjoyed all afternoon and evening. A variety of foods and fun activities were offered to the children. There were two moon bounces, one for children ages 1-5 and another for older children. Other amusements included a dunk tank, pony rides and an assortment of small carnival games with prizes. Tables were set up for a book exchange, the School Libraries Project, PTA, CHIP and other volunteer organizations that elected to share information. The Shrine clowns were also on hand to bring laughter, smiles and happiness to the young and the old. The Voice of Freemasonry
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