2022 Masonic Charities of Arizona overview by rcbthree

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

Masonic Charities Managing Editor

A Grand Lodge F. & A.M of Arizona Publication

President’s Message Board of Directors List 2021 Grant Recipients Gila County SOS

Suzy Foundation Az Assoc. for Foster & Adoptive Parents Hoofbeats with Hearts Treasures 4 Teachers Family Promise Compassion Connect Boys and Girls Club Central Arizona Never Alone Inc. Northland Family Help Coalition for Compassion and Justice People who care in Prescott Read Better, Be Better Furnishing Dignity Gila Safe Haven Legal Services for Crime Victims Heavy Metal Welding Tech The Joy Bus Diner A Stepping Stone Foundation Dream City Christian School The Child Language Center Corbin’s Legacy Youth on their Own Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children Cloud Covered Streets Prescott Community Cupboard Food Bank New Life Center Holbrook First Step Workshop Soldier’s Best Friend Operation Enduring Gratitude Control Alt Delete Square and Compass Clinic Hospice of Yuma Front Cover: WB Eric Dupree and WB Tim Strausser awarding a 2021 Grant to the Youth on their Own in Tucson, Arizona

My Brothers, On behalf of the Arizona Masonic Charities Board, we are pleased to submit this overview for 2021 grant cycle to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Arizona, Free & Accepted Masons. This overview will share all the wonderful charities the Charities were able to support this year with grants made possible by the Masons of Arizona. All of us at Arizona Masonic Charities have appreciated the spirit of collaboration and partnership provided by both the Grand Lodge leadership as well as Brethren from throughout the Jurisdiction. Working together, we have made great strides. It is this collaboration and partnership that has made Arizona Masonic Charities something we can all be very proud of. We are pleased with the progress we have made this past year in reaching more Charities and community members, and providing more services for all. We have been able to do this because of the support of the entire Jurisdiction. A very special THANK YOU to all those Lodges that make donations to the Charities in memory of their departed Brethren. Looking ahead, Arizona Masonic Charities will continue to improve its focus on those organizations throughout the State engaged in relieving human suffering of any kind that are dependent upon contributions from the public to accomplish their mission. There is always room to improve, and we look forward to continuing a positive and productive relationship with the Grand Lodge, the Masons of the Jurisdiction, and all members of all of our Masonic family. Sincerely and Fraternally, Paul J Doré Sr President 2021-2022 Masonic Charities of Arizona

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

President Arizona Lodge No. 2 White Mountain Lodge No. 3

Vice President Adobe Lodge No. 41

Secretary/Treasurer Gila Valley Lodge No. 9

San Pedro Lodge No. 55

Aztlan Lodge No. 1

Chalcedony Lodge No. 6

Sun City Lodge No. 72

Flagstaff Lodge No. 7

Scottsdale Lodge No. 43

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #1

Gila County S O S is a human service organization in Globe, AZ, which was founded in 2007. Gila County SOS’ programs focus on preventing and healing family violence. We serve the community in three ways: with direct victims services, by renovating and starting new Family Advocacy Centers, and by providing training around the state. With no paid staff, Gila County SOS has reached thousands of victims and survivors around Gila County. We believe in collaborating with other non profits, government agencies, and the community at large to help spread our message of hope, and provide services to all who need us.

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #2

https://suzyfoundation.org A non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals with the cost of assistive equipment not covered by insurance. We are mothers, fathers, grandparents, friends, neighbors, and community members who want to make a difference to enrich the lives of individuals with special needs. Our hope is that all people may have the same opportunities despite challenges and disabilities. aime and Jeremy had a dream come true on Oct. 3, 2006, when they welcomed their first child into the world. Suzy was beautiful and was born full term but weighed less than 5 pounds at delivery. A few months after celebrating Suzy’s first birthday, their world turned upside down as she experienced her first grand mal seizure. After several visits with doctors and therapists, the couple was told that Suzy had epilepsy, along with developmental delays, mental retardation, autism and speech apraxia. Rather than focus on the overwhelmingly negative aspects of these diagnoses, the couple had something else in mind. They wanted to fulfill a promise to support and push Suzy to achieve her dreams. The couple started the non-profit organization the Suzy Foundation almost 10 years ago, which specializes in helping to obtain assistive equipment for individuals with special needs. Today, Suzy is doing great – she is in school and she’s happy and thriving. Please join us in helping other incredible individuals fulfill dreams.

The Arizona Masonic Foundation for Children strives to be the premier provider of programs to enhance the lives of children in Arizona. Their mission is to provide training of such exceptional quality, that every school in Arizona will adopt the "Children at Risk Program" as the intervention program of choice. And to identify, develop and implement additional child centered programs that educate, nurture, fortify, and enrich the lives Mail your donation to: of the youth of Arizona. Over 2,000 Educators have been trained and more than $500,000 donated to MSAP by AZ Masons.

Bob Shrager AMFC P.O. Box 32605 Tucson, AZ. 85751-2605

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #3

https://azafab.org The Arizona Association for Foster and Adoptive Parents was founded in 2003 to serve the foster, adoptive and kinship families who care for Arizona’s most vulnerable children. We are all volunteers, and all foster and adoptive parents. We believe there is strength in numbers, and in speaking with one voice for Arizona’s foster and adoptive families. Please join us and help to make all of us stronger and better in our service to the children in Arizona!

Our Mission Working in partnership with child welfare professionals and the community, our purpose is to support, educate, empower and provide a unified voice for Arizona’s foster and adoptive families, with the goal of increasing the well-being and stability of Arizona’s most vulnerable children.

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #4

https://hoofbeatswithheart.org OUR PASSION Partnering very special horses and compassionate licensed therapists, mental health professionals and trained Equine Specialists dedicated to providing therapies that can profoundly improve the lives of those living with physical, mental or emotional challenges. Our equine activities and other nurturing interactions with animals provide a scaffold on which therapists mount a full range of physical, occupational and speech therapies. Founded by visionary equestrian Kelley Hullihen Hoofbeats with Heart began realizing the opportunity to provide services to the under served community of those with disabilities in 2007. Hoofbeats with Heart is 501(c)(3) charity run solely by dedicated volunteers none of whom take a salary. Our passion is improving the lives of the physically and mentally challenged, anchoring at risk youth and giving grief a voice through the fellowship between humans and horses. Hoofbeats with Heart is the only equine therapy center in the East Valley to offer all four Equine Assisted Activities and Therapy (EAAT) services recognized by PATH (formerly known as the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association) to individuals living with a variety of physical and emotional disabilities. Services offered at Hoofbeats with Heart are: Therapeutic Riding (TR), Hippotherapy (HPOT), Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL), Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) The discipline associated with working with horses and the social interactions between peers benefit the mind and spirit, raises self-esteem and increases self-sufficiency through accomplishment. The unconditional love of the horse is proven to reduce anxiety, encourage interaction and offer a haven where riders can feel a sense of empowerment. Our EAAT programs are conducted by nationally certified instructors. Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #5

https://treasures4teachers.org TREASURES 4 TEACHERS means riches for education Treasures 4 Teachers is a member based resource and supply store serving the educators of Arizona. This means that anyone who works closely with students can have access to a wide selection of materials, resources and training that will enhance and expand the learning process. T4T is a donation-based operation. Therefore, we are able to provide low cost and free school supplies to our members in Tempe, Arizona. In 2004, Barbara was visiting a 2nd grade classroom. The teacher asked her students to get out a piece of paper and pencil. Barbara watched as a little 7 year old student named Sandy walked up to the teacher and gave her a shoe. The teacher quickly gave Sandy a pencil. After class, Barbara asked the teacher why Sandy had to give her a shoe for the pencil, the teacher said because she didn’t have enough pencils, and this way she knew she would get her pencil back because Sandy wouldn’t leave without her shoe. That day, Barbara knew she needed to do something so that students didn’t have to give up their shoe for a pencil. Barbara started Treasures 4 Teachers a “Creative Reuse Center” specifically catered to teachers to get the supplies they need for free and low cost so their students can be successful. Today it is thriving in a 12,000 square foot facility in Tempe, Arizona.

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #6

https://familypromise.org The Beginning Karen Olson was rushing to a business meeting when she passed a woman experiencing homelessness on the street. On impulse, Karen bought her a sandwich. The woman, Millie, accepted the sandwich but asked for something more — a chance to be heard. Karen stayed with Millie and listened. What she heard made her understand that homelessness brought profound feelings of diminished self-worth and disconnection from society. Soon after, Karen and her two sons began delivering lunches to people experiencing homelessness on the streets of New York. We are there when a family’s homelessness is imminent, and we work to avoid the trauma of a family losing their housing. Our Affiliates do this through: Case management and community support, Rental assistance, security deposits, Utility support, Landlord mediation, Housing location, Transportation – gas cards, bus passes, and car donations Keeping families out of shelter is good public policy and good fiscal policy. When families have lost housing and reach out to Family Promise, we provide alternatives to shelter, including: Temporary hotel/motel stays, Payments for rent in arrears, security deposits, Landlord mediation and housing location, and Creative solutions leveraging a family’s strengths

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #7

www.compassionconnect.com/arizona In 2011 a small team of volunteers held Arizona’s first Compassion Clinic in Queen Creek. Through the success of the event the team learned that not only were the churches in their community hungry to work together, but the local people were seriously underserved. Exit interviews proved that the area had a huge lack of social services and community resources. The biggest problem was that social service agencies and churches providing services to this area needed a place to meet clients. The volunteers responded to this need by creating a brand new model to unite churches to serve: a community resource center they named the Compassion Care Center. A small building in an impoverished community that is referred to by residents as “Little Mexico” now provides a place where those in need can come and receive a wide variety of services ranging from parenting classes and pregnancy counseling to English as a second language classes, job services, rent and utility assistance, food, clothes, and much more. The Arizona team is powered by many volunteers whose faithful service has helped thousands of San Tan Valley residents receive compassionate health care and services. Our team in Arizona has been uniting churches to host a Compassion Clinic in Queen Creek, AZ since 2010. It was because of this Clinic that they were inspired to create the Compassion Care Center! Arizona’s Compassion Care Center is a community resource center that helps struggling families and individuals thrive by connecting them to local resources and services. Arizona’s first Design Studio launched in 2019 with the goal of serving, loving, and empowering young women who face obstacles in life that put them in harm’s way for human trafficking. We believe in the volunteer leaders, in those who are yet to rise up and in the potential of any community in the world to make a difference by uniting in Jesus-like service to its most hurting members. You have the heart to make a difference. We have the tools to make it a reality. Gila Valley Lodge No.9 brought this charity to Masonic Charities of Arizona and works with them yearround with volunteer hours and Lodge fund raisers.

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #8

www.bgca.org Imagine a place where who you are, where you're from or the circumstances that surround you don’t determine your access to experiences or opportunities. Through your support, Boys & Girls Clubs are making that vision a reality — in your community and communities around the world. We believe every kid has what it takes. The mission and core beliefs of Boys & Girls Clubs fuel our commitment to promoting safe, positive and inclusive environments for all. Boys & Girls Clubs of America supports all youth and teens – of every race, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, ability, socio-economic status, and religion – in reaching their full potential. Through it all, kids have been our #1 priority. Boys & Girls Clubs provide a safe haven for more than 4 million youth, giving them an opportunity to discover their great futures. But millions of kids are still in need, and we can’t close the opportunity gap alone. You can make a life-changing difference today! Whatever It Takes to Build Great Futures There is no silver bullet to success. It takes an army of people, a safe environment, high-quality programs and unique experiences to level the playing field for all kids. Boys & Girls Clubs don't just do one thing, we do whatever it takes to build great futures for America's young people. Boys & Girls Clubs of America had its beginnings in 1860 with three women in Hartford, Connecticut - Mary Goodwin, Alice Goodwin and Elizabeth Hammersley. Believing that boys who roamed the streets should have a positive alternative, they organized the first Club. With character development as the cornerstone of the experience, the Club focused on capturing boys interests, improving their behavior and increasing their personal expectations and goals. A cause was born. Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #9

https://sites.google.com/view/never-alone-inc We provide food, clothing , hygiene and resources to homeless in the Phoenix metro area. We work with local organizations to provide much needed services to a very underserved portion of our Community

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #10

www.northlandfamily.org In 1978, Northland Crisis Nursery opened its doors for the first time with five beds for children under the age of four. At the same time, the Women’s Resource Center became a non-profit organization. These two organizations are the roots of Northland Family Help Center. Through the 80s, each agency provided many services to northern Arizona. From the Women’s Resource Center’s passion to end domestic violence to Northland Crisis Nursery developing the “Time-Out” program, their strengths and ideas gave life to Northland Family. In 1991, the two became one central organization…one strong, sheltering tree. Then in 1999, with the help of Arizona citizens, Northland Family Help Center opened what was named at the time “H.A.L.O. House” (Haven for Advocacy and Learning Opportunities), a unique facility housing our two separate shelters for women and children, with a total of 36 beds. As one central agency the staff and board carried on the passion and ideas of the organization to help families and individuals with relationship violence. Northland Family Help Center has continued to grow and evolve over the years. They currently have 40 beds in our Domestic Violence Shelter and Youth Shelter combined. Their Domestic Violence Shelter serves individuals and families of all genders. They strive to practice Trauma-Informed Care across all aspects of our agency’s work. Their Counseling, Legal Advocacy, and Community Education programs all serve residents in both shelters, in addition to the larger Northern Arizona community. In 2017, Northland began housing the local collaborative Flagstaff Initiative Against Trafficking (FIAT), in order to intervene in human trafficking and exploitation. Northland Family Help Center celebrated 40 years of service in 2018. Their Mission and Vision Northland Family Help Center’s mission is to provide safe haven, advocacy, counseling, and education to promote and restore healthy relationships. They envision a community where all people live in safety, where all forms of violence have been eradicated, and where healthy families and individuals serve as the foundation of a vibrant and productive community. The Charities partnered with Flagstaff Lodge No. 7 to present this important Grant. They are actively looking for way to support this Charity year round! Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #11

https://yavapaiccj.org/ OUR MISSION ENDING AND PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS We are a service and a solution to those living in homelessness, working toward a just and compassionate community for all! The Coalition for Compassion and Justice (CCJ) is a non profit poverty-relief center serving Yavapai County, Arizona. We offer a variety of projects to those in need in our community. Learn more about them and how they are helping. We utilize donations for our clients in need through a voucher system as well as using proceeds to support our outreach efforts.

CCJ MISSION Our board and staff team are committed to: Maintaining our client-centered focus so that our responses are relevant. Ensuring our organizational agility so we can respond to client needs quickly and effectively. Working collaboratively with many partners while advocating for change in our community. We desire to educate through action and have a deep sense of connection throughout the CCJ community. We carry a belief that there can be an end to homelessness and seek that through our daily interactions with our clients.

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #12

www.peoplewhocareaz.com TOUCHING LIVES, LIFTING SPIRITS We are able to help our Neighbors at no charge because of loyal and generous donors and our dedicated and highly-valued volunteers. People Who Care is a nonprofit volunteer caregiving organization that provides non-medical assistance to adults who are no longer able to drive due to age-related and physical limitations, which helps them to continue living at home and in their community. The Neighbor enrollment process includes both a phone interview and a home visit by one of our volunteer Intake Coordinators. There is never any charge for the assistance provided. Volunteering with People Who Care is an opportunity to help someone living in your community who is not able to drive anymore. It’s a special opportunity for you to hear the stories of their rich life experiences and to share yours.

People Who Care To Have New Home July 31, 2021 We are pleased to announce that we have received a major gift from the estate of R. Doris Glushenko, whom we were privileged to serve for many years prior to her death last year. Ms. Glushenko often expressed that she was able to remain in her home for so long because of People Who Care. After 29 years as an organization, this gift has enabled us to finally have our own home. We have outgrown our current, rented space, and are purchasing a building for our offices so we can expand services to many more people who need us to help them remain in their own homes. The building is located at 1580 Plaza West Drive in Prescott. An Open House will be held once our offices are located there.

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People Who Care is a 501(c)(3) agency in the quad cities area that helps adults physically unable to drive to continue living independently in their homes by providing sential transportation and other nonmedical assistance.

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #13

www.readbetterbebetter.org Read Better Be Better (RBBB) was founded by Sophie Etchart in 2014 in Phoenix as a response to Arizona’s literacy crisis. The state is ranked 45th in the nation for childhood literacy and 48th for PreK-12th education. Currently, 69% of 3rd graders from low-income families in Arizona do not read at grade level and often are unable to make the necessary transition from “learning to read” to “reading to learn” by 4th grade. Students who do not read proficiently by the end of 3rd grade are four times less likely to graduate from high school. But with proper reading intervention, there is an 89% chance that students who can read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade will graduate from high school, irrespective of socio-economic status. RBBB’s mission is to help children improve literacy skills and become better learners. The organization’s after-school program serves 3rd-grade Readers who have been identified by their teachers as needing targeted reading intervention. The 3rd graders are paired for a semester with at-risk 6th-8th grade Leaders who have been recommended to the program by school personnel, including social workers and resource officers, often because they have in some way become disengaged from school. The Leaders are provided with ongoing training in implementing reading strategies, leadership, and coaching skills by RBBB Site Leaders, many of whom are education majors. Together the Site Leaders, Leaders, and Readers work to improve concentration, reading comprehension, and the enjoyment of reading. RBBB currently partners with 10 districts in 62 schools, serving a total of 3,968 Readers and Leaders across Maricopa and Pinal counties. Due to the COVID pandemic Masonic Charities of Arizona was unable to present the grant in person. Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #14

www.furnishingdignity.org Furnishing Dignity provides home furnishings for people transitioning from a shelter or foster care. While other organizations can provide housing assistance, funds do not exist to purchase home furnishings. Organizations do a great job of helping families get off the streets and into a place of their own, however, sleeping on the floor in an empty apartment doesn’t help a family truly transform their lives. Prometheus Lodge No. 87 continued to partner with Masonic Charities of Arizona to present the 2020 Grant. The Gilbert based Lodge has been supporting the Charity for the last two years after being introduced by Masonic Charities.

You can represent the Fraternity with your very own Masonic License Plate There is a $25 initial application fee/ $25 annual renewal. No special requirements for eligibility as the plates are available to everyone. $17 of the fee is donated to charities supported by the Grand Lodge. The license plate may be personalized with maximum of 7 characters Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #15

www.gilahouseinc.com GILA House is a successful, volunteer based, 501.c.3 non- profit agency that has been serving the GlobeMiami area since January 1, 2010. Our mission is to provide General Interim Living Assistance (GILA) to families who have suffered a life altering event that potentially could result in homelessness. On September 10th, 2019 we received the Notice of Certification as Qualified Charitable Organization. Our vision is to become a full service, multifamily interim living assistance facility, providing emergency housing and transitional housing with full time and volunteer staff. We also provide a community assistance program to assist the elderly, disabled, and economically disadvantaged by performing emergency repairs to allow them to remain in their residences. Our goal is to provide a healthy, safe, energy efficient environment for the seniors of our local community.

Alderman House/Gila Safe Haven This new safe haven provides a welcoming, safe refuge and safe environment for those needing to flee harmful situations at home. Emergency shelter will be provided for survivors, women and children fearing domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, stalking and trafficking. The ultimate goal of the Gila Safe Haven/Alderman House is to help families regain control and transform their lives, breaking the cycle of violence. Every nine seconds a woman in the U.S. is assaulted or beaten. Gila Safe Haven/Alderman House, Emergency Shelter will afford victims and their children the resources needed to recover from trauma that they have experienced and gain independence from their abuser. In addition, safe housing will provide meals and basic needs, support services which include case management, financial coaching, and employment assistance along with life skills development. The Gila Safe Haven/Alderman House provides a safe, secure playground for children, education, activity groups, as well as counseling services and a stable source for nutrition. Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #16

www.lscva.org Throughout history victims of crime have alternately been treated unfairly, overlooked, excluded, and considered to be merely another piece of evidence in a criminal trial. Recognizing these injustices, in 1990 Arizona became one of the first states to write protections for victims into the State Constitution. Yet, injustices for crime victims remain all too common today as the legal community struggles to balance the rights of victims, the rights of the defendant and the interests of the State. Victims’ rights violations can occur by any of the actors in the criminal justice system—the prosecutor, the court, the defendant—and at any time in the criminal justice process, even before the case is scheduled for its first hearing. The only way to be certain that a victim’s rights are properly asserted and enforced is if the victim has legal representation of his or her own. Additionally, victims are often left without assistance or resources when faced with contested protective order proceedings and other matters collateral to the crime. Victims are expected to navigate complex legal systems on their own while trying to heal from the trauma of the crime and address the financial, physical, emotional and spiritual effects of the crime. This can be extremely overwhelming for crime victims. Legal Services for Crime Victims in Arizona (LSCVA) is here to help and has designed its programs to form comprehensive, holistic services to advance victim healing, autonomy and stabilization in the aftermath of crime. On Wednesday, 15 September, Arizona Masonic Charities made a grant presentation to the Legal Services for Crime Victims in Arizona. This community services agency is located in Sun City and provides programs of advocacy, empowerment, and support for victims of criminal activity. Above is a photo of the donation presentation. In the picture are staff members of the Legal Services agency along with Dave Miller, representing the Arizona Masonic Charities Board (second from Left), and Matt Link, Worshipful Master of Sun City Lodge No 72 (far left in Photo).

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #17

www.hmwTech.org Our Military Personnel and Veterans have given so much of themselves to be sure we are safe here on the home front. We would like to give back to them by offering a fresh start in their transition to civilian life, free from the financial burden of establishing a new career. Our values include quality, team work and trust. Utilizing those values we will aide unemployed Veterans entering the civilian workforce by giving them a sense of purpose, pride and achievement while learning a career in the skilled trades field of welding and metal fabrication tuition free! Our educational program will offer a four month training program, enrolling eight students in the program per semester. They will learn a skilled trade in welding and metal fabrication. Topics covered will include: Shop, job site and health safety in a welding environment. The history of welding and the importance of becoming a skilled certified welder. Welding and cutting processes, weld joints, welding positions, welding symbols, blue print reading and OSHA Training. Welding process covered will include: · SMAW / Stick welding · GMAW / Mig welding · FCAW / Flux core welding · GTAW / Gas Tungsten Arc welding · CNC and Manual Plasma cutting· Oxyfuel Gas Cutting We will build on the foundation with two new instructors enabling us to have more classes during a one year period, maximizing our graduating classes. The foundations long term vision is to increase class size to enroll ten students per semester and to grow our curriculum to include more in depth processes such as robotic welding applications and programming, as well as fork lift and MSHA certification Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #18

www.thejoybusdiner.com The Joy Bus is a Not for Profit organization whose sole purpose is to relieve the daily struggles of homebound cancer patients with a fresh Chef Inspired meal and a friendly face. Their vision is to elevate the livelihood of our patrons with the joy of culinary sustenance. Founded in 2011 and named in honor of our dear friend Joy who struggled with the painstaking side-effects of cancer, ultimately losing her life to this horrific disease. Joy suffered from cancer in the 4 “L” s (in Joy's words) “Lungs, Liver, Lymphoids and Loveries”. Her drive and determination are inspirational to all those who fight her same battle and if a hot meal and a little compassion can brighten her day then it’s the least we can all do as humans and as a part of a community. Millions of cancer patients are left to fend for themselves during this turning point in their lives. The Joy Bus will relieve the burden put on families during this time by providing healthy meals specified to meet our patron’s needs. The Joy Bus delivers not only quality meals to your doorstep but compassion and a smiling face. Now open in Phoenix, The Joy Bus Diner™ is a 100% nonprofit restaurant that’s helping make our Valley a tastier, happier place, one meal at a time. Serving hearty, made-to-order breakfast and lunch fare every Tuesday – Sunday from 7am – 2pm, every cent earned will be used to support The Joy Bus, a local charity that’s been bringing chef-inspired meals and caring conversations to cancer patients Valley-wide. Founded and operated by Jennifer Caraway, The Joy Bus Diner™ is the culmination of her five-plus year effort to improve the lives of local cancer patients through the power of a hand delivered meal and face-to-face interaction. Inspired by a friend named Joy who had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Caraway started dropping off homecooked dinners and chatting with local cancer patients in need of a little good cheer. Over time it expanded into Valley-wide non-profit organization named The Joy Bus, which collects and cooks donated food for volunteers to deliver to patients around the Valley in need of a friendly face and an open ear. Most important, Caraway says, she’s been embraced by the local food community, with Crooked Sky Farms and others donating fresh food, while chefs including Tracy Dempsey (Tracy Dempsey’s Originals), Gio Osso (Virtu Honest Craft, Nico) and Bernie Kantak (Citizen Public House, The Gladly) all serve on The Joy Bus Board of Directors, and Fox Restaurant Concepts donating both financial support and culinary expertise. Arizona Lodge No. 2 is a big supporter of The Joy Bus and The Joy Bus Diner year round and jumped at the chance to present the 2020 Grant. They continue to work with the Charity year-round.

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #19

www.asteppingstone.org A Stepping Stone Foundation was created in 1989 when a handful of people with large hearts and small purses began a journey to create preschool experiences for every needy child in Arizona. Believing that early education is crucial for all children, and seeing the woeful number of children not being served that would most benefit, this group decided to make a difference. The Foundation put together a “Dream Plan” for a preschool to serve four-year-olds at risk of school failure. The Isaac School District indicated great need and a willingness to work with the Foundation and the rest is history! A Stepping Stone Foundation Board and Isaac School District created what was to be an award-winning program in the fall of 1990 and now, twenty-two years later A Stepping Stone Foundation has served more than 1700 families (over 5,000 people) in four different Phoenix school districts: Alhambra, Fowler, Isaac, and Murphy. In recent years, a model, child-centered family literacy program remains open in cooperation with the Alhambra School District. A new initiative, Stepping into the Future, was launched in February of 2013. A Stepping Stone currently collaborates with Alhambra Elementary School District to provide two preschool classes for a total of 35 three- and four-year-old preschool children, up to 13 younger siblings, and adult education and parenting classes for their parents in Phoenix, Arizona. Identified as those children most at risk of school failure due to low literacy in the home environment, children attend a quality preschool program. Their parents attend English and/or GED preparation classes while younger siblings attend a nurturing childcare setting. We provide money for the teachers’ salaries, technical assistance (teacher training, and student and parent assessment management), classroom learning equipment, books, and child care for younger siblings while the parents are in their classes and workshops. Our teachers have petty cash for special purchases such as food for classroom pets or ingredients for cooking. Because of its wide support base, the foundation is able to provide Christmas Angels for all children in each family, as well as new or gently used clothing, furniture, toys and books throughout the year. When a family disaster such as fire or death occurs, money and gifts are quickly gathered. Parties and celebrations are jointly planned and enjoyed by families and the Board. Phoenicia Lodge No. 58 was very happy to help present the 2020 grant! Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #20

www.dreamcityschool.org Dream City Christian is a fully accredited school that serves Preschool through High School students. The TLC (The Learning Center) Program was initially developed to help meet the needs of our students who have been identified as needing academic interventions and accommodations. As they began working with students, parents and teachers, they discovered that spelling and reading were the most common concerns so our research into how to best meet our students’ needs began. They looked at several reading programs, but they just didn’t seem to address our concerns. Then they found Susan Barton’s research and website and their eyes were opened to the hidden world of dyslexia. If you break your arm and your arm is in a cast, there is visible evidence of a disability. In contrast, dyslexia is a hidden disability; there’s no external sign on you saying you are dyslexic. Students with dyslexia are often very bright and possess a strong intellect with outstanding reasoning and analytic abilities and yet read slowly, at times, speak with mispronunciations and hesitations, and spell poorly. Symptoms include hesitancy with reading; misreading; difficulty with sequencing; poor organizational and time management skills; difficulty with organizing thoughts clearly, and erratic spelling. Dyslexia is the primary reason students struggle with spelling, then written language. Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that affects reading and spelling. Very few people truly understand dyslexia. The majority of the population believes that dyslexia is a disorder of reversing letters and numbers, but dyslexia is much more complex than that. Some individuals with dyslexia do confuse letters and numbers, but the key markers of dyslexia are poor word identification and spelling skills. In reading, an individual with dyslexia has difficulty quickly recognizing words they read, even if these words are very common. In spelling, an individual with dyslexia may have trouble sequencing the sounds of the word in order or remembering the specific spelling patterns so they will tend to spell words the way they sound, rather than how they look (e.g. thay for they, becus for because).

Their staff has been trained by Susan Barton to effectively screen students and identify those needing dyslexia tutoring. Once identified, they work with parents to develop a tutoring schedule (1 hour, twice a week minimum) with a qualified tutor using the Barton Reading and Spelling Program. Students will begin with level one and continue through all ten levels of the tutoring program. Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #21

www.clctucson.org ONE-OF-A-KIND IN SOUTHERN AZ Programs are designed to help young children, 2 ½ – 5 years of age, develop speech, language, and pre-literacy skills. All screening, evaluation, and therapy sessions are performed, or supervised, by Speech-Language Pathologists who hold a Master’s degree and Clinical Certification from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). In addition to acting as a service center, the clinic serves as an active research and educational training center for students who are enrolled in the Speech Language Pathology training program work through the Department of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) at The University of Arizona. The mission of the CLC is to benefit children with language disorders through unique, specialized early intervention programs, and to support research and professional training to improve language learning. WINGS ON WORDS (WOW) Summer Camp This intensive five-week camp is designed to boost young children’s speech, language and literacy development. This innovative program includes individualized and small group speech and language therapy for children with speech or language delays or the struggling early reader. Instead of losing valuable instructional time in the summer, children enrolled in camp make impressive gains in speech, language, and pre-academic skills – and have great fun in the process! The staff includes experienced, certified teachers and speech-language pathologists and graduate student clinicians providing a low (1:4) staff-to-child ratio.

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #22

www.corbinslegacy.org Corbin’s Legacy was established in memory and honor of Corbin Leafman, a dedicated teacher, colleague, steadfast friend, and devoted family member, who died at the age of 30 from cancer. She was adamant about being remembered, not by her death but by who she was, how she cared and the way she lived. Corbin was an extraordinarily compassionate, caring and creative Kindergarten teacher who taught in schools with disadvantaged students. She made it her mission to never let a child go hungry…not for a meal, a day, or a weekend. She was known for always walking through the lunch line holding up a $20.00 bill to make sure that the cafeteria lady knew that none of her students were to go without a hot meal. Corbin also made sure that her students had the support that they needed to be successful in school and in life. She bought uniforms, school supplies and “cool” backpacks, etc. for those students in need. All anonymously. Corbin recognized the gifts in every one of her students and always inspired them to excel. As a colleague Corbin was committed to always raising the professional bar. She shared and cared locally and globally. Corbin regularly wrote and was awarded grants that allowed her to support not just her classroom but to also help meet the needs of colleagues as well as the larger needs of her schools. As a friend Corbin was supportive, caring, thoughtful and funny. There was nothing that she wouldn’t do for her friends. She offered advice when asked, always had gifts at hand and lived with a smile and a laugh. No fundraiser ever suffered when Corbin was asked for her support. As a family member she was our beloved red headed sister and daughter who we will miss every second of every day. And so because we knew her, we (her colleagues, friends’ family, students and supporters) have vowed to honor and remember Corbin by making change for good.

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #23

www.yoto.org Youth On Their Own (YOTO) is a dropout prevention program that supports the high school graduation and continued success of youth experiencing homelessness in Pima County. The organization was founded in 1986 when Ann Young, a guidance counselor in the Amphitheater School District, noticed that talented and motivated students were dropping out of school due to homelessness and being forced to live on their own without a parent or guardian. Inspired by the students’ tenacity and willingness to stay in school, other school counselors, teachers, volunteers, and community members came together to form YOTO with the goal of helping students graduate. After consulting with her fellow teachers, Young’s initial idea was to buy a home for a group of homeless teenage girls. She presented this proposal, along with the stories of the students she aimed to help, to a group gathered at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church dedicated to assisting Tucson’s homeless community. People were appalled at the situations they were in, and jumped at the opportunity to lend them a hand. Soon, Young had an army of volunteers. She even managed to raise $80,000 in a single morning, thanks to the generosity of the congregation. The money funded a group residence for homeless girls. Known as the St. Andrew’s Friendly Environment (SAFE) House, it quickly became apparent that SAFE House was not large enough to accommodate all of the students who needed services. It became increasingly expensive and was too much for one volunteer parent to handle. The community stepped forward again, and many families volunteered to take care of these students in need. It was an unexpected check from a New York City charitable foundation, though, that launched a stipend program to greatly increase the aid available to homeless teens. Young’s experience with the SAFE House, which closed after two years, encouraged her to further expand the program. She applied for grants and spread the word about the charitable work the organization was doing. At this point, it was known as the Pima County Homeless Teen Project — a marketing specialist later dubbed it Youth on Their Own — and Young knew that if she wanted to continue her project, she would have to apply to become a full-fledged 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation. After successfully gaining the designation, YOTO applied for and won a grant from Angel Charity for $100,000 for the stipend program in 1990. That funding coupled with a community-wide advertising campaign gave YOTO the exposure it needed to really take off and become the program it is today. Since then, over 16,000 homeless and compromised students have been empowered to stay in school and pursue opportunities for self-sufficiency. Downtown Lodge No. 86 was the Lodge that brought YOTO to Masonic Charities and is a little personal as it has members that have been helped by the Charity! Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #24

www.azcancerfoundation.org Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children provides critical support to families who have a child battling cancer. Financial Assistance—A child undergoing cancer treatments spends days, weeks, sometimes months in the hospital, and the overall expense of having a child with cancer is often too much for families to handle. ACFC ensures life can go on after diagnosis. ACFC assists families with travel, medical, rent, and other expenses associated with, and impacted by, their child’s cancer diagnosis. Individual • Family Counseling—Services offered, by a licensed mental health professional, to cancer warrior, siblings, and/or parents. Coping Skills Workshops—These workshops utilize a variety of therapy techniques, such as music and art, to help your cancer warrior and your family navigate your cancer journey. K9 Therapy—A visit from a four-pawed, tail-wagging friend is often the best medicine. The k9 therapy program provides recurring visits, from one of our certified therapy dogs. Sunshine Packs—Pack includes comforting, educational and entertaining items to bring a smile and comfort to your child. Siblings are always included with for every Sunshine Pack Adopt-A-Family—Program pairs generous donors with families, to gift items for the entire family. Birthday Wishes - When your cancer warrior is scheduled to spend their birthday in the hospital and/or clinic for treatment, an extra special birthday gift will be delivered directly to your child. Respite Programs—Such as art classes, science events, sporting events, and unique experiences are offered monthly.

End-Of-Life Support—Losing a child to cancer is a devastating experience. No family should have to go through this journey alone. ACFC provides financial assistance for funeral services and end of life expenses. ACFC ensures families have continued support after their child passes away.

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #25

www.cloudcoveredstreets.org October 14, 2015 was the first day I went out on a street mission to help those experiencing homelessness. I was always driving around town running errands for my other business, Paper Clouds Apparel, and every day would see individuals holding signs asking for help, most of the time wearing shirts that were dirty or falling apart. This first venture I was with my friend Brie, and had a large stack of new t-shirts printed with the Paper Clouds Apparel logo, and a stack of hand written letters of hope, notes filled with encouragement. I had no thought of beginning a nonprofit, I was just going to hand out positive letters and new shirts. Daniel was the third person I met that day, and he changed my life forever. When we approached Daniel he was sitting in the park and did not have a shirt on. I approached him, shook his hand and we exchanged names. I then handed Daniel a new shirt and letter of hope. Daniel took them and then placed his head in his hands and began to cry. I asked him if he was ok, and Daniel told us that everything he owned was stolen a week ago, and he didn’t even have a t-shirt to his name. Hearing that inspired me and I realized I was going to do something to help those in need. In May of 2016 Cloud Covered Streets received our 501c3 nonprofit status. When I was out on the streets, our goal from the start was to develop friendships with the people we helped. I always tried to make sure everyone we met understood that we cared about them. One of the questions I would always ask was: “What is something you could really use?” The most common answer was “A shower.” Their answers started over a three year project to bring them what they need. I researched and found others who were bringing showers to the streets, but they hadn’t combined other resources like a laundry machine, so they would shower and then put back on dirty clothes. We wanted to do better. Along the way we had multiple construction and fabrication companies promise to help our dream come true, only to disappear when needed. So we decided to build it ourself. We bought an empty 22 foot cargo trailer, and with the help of a couple friends, and a couple local businesses, we completed the build of our first mobile shower/laundry trailer in March of 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a delay in our launch, but soon we will be out on the streets and helping those experiencing homelessness.

Cloud Covered Streets is not going to stop with one trailer. We understand that homelessness is an issue all over the United States and we want our trailer in every city where there is a need. Thank you all for learning about Cloud Covered Streets and we hope to hear from you, have you volunteer at a trailer, or maybe even lead up a street team. Thank you for your support. Without your time and donations, none of this would be possible. Have a beautiful day. Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #26

www.Prescottcommuitycupboardfoodbank.com

It is the Prescott Community Cupboard’s mission is to provide temporary food assistance to individuals and families in Prescott, Arizona and surrounding communities in Yavapai County. Seven local churches founded the Prescott Community Cupboard in 1973 as a temporary food source for the Prescott area. It was designated as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in 1981. Six of the original founding churches continue to support Community Cupboard after more than 45 years. Food insecurity: a lack of access to enough food for a healthy, active lifestyle. Arizona boasts the 10th highest rate of food insecurity in the nation, and the 3rd highest rate of child insecurity. Over a quarter of the children living in Yavapai County are food insecure; that’s more than 10,000 children in our county alone who do not have reliable access to enough nutritious food. And, despite the fact that from 2010 to 2011 Arizona’s number of unemployed persons decreased even more than the national average (12% statewide as opposed to 7% nationally), our number of persons in poverty increased during that time by 10%. There are individuals and families out there who are still just struggling to get by. Since 1973, the Prescott Community Cupboard has been providing groceries to empower households to create their own “healthy, active lifestyle.” One visit to the Cupboard provides enough shelf-stable food to create 12 nutritionally-balanced meals per household member. It can be used to exclusively feed a household for four days, or it can supplement their other food, adding the fruit, vegetables, and protein that would otherwise be difficult for a food-insecure household to have in every meal. Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #27

www.newlifectr.org New Life Center believes that every family has the right to live free from violence. The passion of our board, volunteers, and staff extends to the youngest victims of domestic violence – children who witness domestic violence or are abused themselves. New Life Center serves more than 1,000 children and adults annually through our emergency shelter and outreach support programs. More than 70% of New Life Center’s shelter population is children. In 2017, New Life Center served more children and provided more bed nights than any other single facility providing emergency shelter to domestic violence survivors in Arizona. New Life Center is one of the largest domestic violence shelters in the country.

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #28

First Step Work Shop was founded in 1980 by longtime Holbrook resident, Corky Demarse. Mrs. Demarse was herself the mother of a learning disabled adult, and saw the need for a local program to enhance the lives of similar members of the Holbrook community. Helen Lucero is the current director of First Step and runs a program for 12 learning disabled adults. The most visible aspect of the First Step organization is the Thrift Store. Some of the clients work in a processing area for incoming donations with special attention to cleaning used clothing. The Thrift Store also benefits the Holbrook community as a source of low cost clothing and household items for local families. Some of the clients also have part time employment cleaning nearby businesses. Other clients spend time learning basic life skills. Clients also have the opportunity to develop their athletic skills by participating in the annual Special Olympics program. Friday is usually set aside as a fun day. Clients are able to cash their pay checks and frequently make trips to favorite restaurants for a special lunch. Other activities include recreational trips to area movie theatres and ordering food from fast food eateries in the Holbrook area. During the Christmas season a special party for the clients and staff of First Step is sponsored by the Holbrook Kiwanis Club and takes place in the dining room of Chalcedony Lodge #6, Free and Accepted Masons. First Step Workshop, while a quiet member of the Holbrook community, provides hope and dignity to a segment of the town’s population that might otherwise be totally forgotten. Chalcedony Lodge No. 6 was very happy to help present the charity grant!

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #29

www.soldiersbestfriend.org We are devoted to helping our veterans and the pet overpopulation problem Once a veteran is accepted into our training program, they will be paired with a dog adopted by our nonprofit from a local shelter or with a dog already owned by the veteran. They will live and train together from that point forward. Training is comprised of private and group sessions (2) two days a week for a minimum of (6) six months. We have training locations in: Phoenix Tucson Prescott Sierra Vista Flagstaff *We currently do not train out of Arizona. Out of state veterans will have to travel or relocate to Arizona for training. Training includes basic obedience, public outings and tasks specific to each veteran's PTSD or TBI symptoms. Once the dog is fully trained in all of these skills, it will be qualified as a Service Dog or classified a Therapeutic Companion Dog / Emotional Support Animal. We are now accepting applications to consider your placement with a Service Dog or Therapeutic Companion Dog. All placement and training fees are at no cost to an eligible veteran. The veteran will be responsible for transportation and housing costs (if needed). All funding for Soldier’s Best Friend is from charitable donations. Please help our cause and donate today. Types of Dogs Offered—Depending on the individual need of the applicant, we will train the veteran/dog team for one of two types of dogs; a Service Dog or a Therapeutic Companion Dog / Emotional Support Animal. A Service Dog is allowed by law to enter public places such as the veteran’s work place, restaurants, buses, stores, etc. These are rights set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). A Therapeutic Companion Dog / Emotional Support Animal will not be allowed to enter most public venues. This dog is fully obedience trained. These dogs by law are allowed to live in non pet friendly environments.

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #30

www.operationenduringgratitude.org Operation Enduring Gratitude is an energetic group of community minded people with a focus on helping veterans and their families with life support activities. For example, the group has installed 60 ramps and renovated a number of living quarters for those veterans and family members who are unable to assist themselves due to financial and other limitations. The group works on referrals from members, local governmental personnel, and veterans groups. The Grant that Masonic Charities of Arizona presented was earmarked for a very special November project where two veterans were built ramps into their houses allowing more freedom in their own homes. The project was a success and the Veterans were amazingly thankful. The 2020 Grant was presented with the help of Acacia Lodge No. 42 who continues to volunteer time throughout the year.

www.azmasoniclibrary.org Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #31

www.dvcontrolaltdelete.org On September 2, 2019 Control Alt Delete was founded to help people escape domestic violence by providing basic immediate needs to bridge the gap toward permanent independence. With community support, we provide shortterm assistance such as transportation (cab rides, bus passes, fuel), temporary lodging, home security and lock change assistance, moving and storage, and a basic immediate needs bin (hygiene and other necessities) in order to remove the barriers that keep people in unsafe environments. Helping domestic violence victims reset from abuse, Control Alt Delete LLC is a federally designated 501 (c)3 nonprofit located in the Phoenix, Arizona metro area. Their primary focus is removing the barriers that prevent domestic violence victims from fleeing abusive relationships. 98% of domestic abuse victims suffer financial abuse, and this is the #1 reason why domestic violence victims stay with their abusers. The abuser controls money, which the victim has no available financial resources to escape the relationship. THEIR MISSION They connect domestic violence victims with community resources and support by providing basic immediate needs. With support from our community we provide emergency cab rides, hotel accommodations, home security systems, lock change assistance, meals, storage and moving companies. Oriental Lodge No. 20 was very enthusiastically stepped forward to help award this grant. They are actively looking for way to support this Charity year round! Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

csdewMASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #32

www.squareandcompassclinic.com In 1947, a pediatric polio clinic was founded by Square & Compass, a non-profit, tax exempt organization presently operated by a voluntary Board of Directors. Later it became the Square & Compass Crippled Children’s Clinic serving disabled and chronically ill children through the State of Arizona Crippled Children’s Services. In 1991, the Children’s Clinics was formed as a non-profit corporation by the Tucson Medical Center (TMC) and the University Medical Center (UMC). Square & Compass and the pediatric medical community of Tucson have joined with TMC and UMC to provide services to the disabled and chronically ill children of Southern Arizona who are medically eligible. Square & Compass owns the building which houses the Children’s Clinics and also spends thousands of dollars annually on medical services, hospitalization, supplies and equipment for children who do not have other resources to provide the services. For 25 years, Square & Compass Children’s Clinics has been the host facility for Shriners for Children Medical Center Outreach Clinics. As the host facility for the outreach clinics, Square & Compass provides the Shriners Medical Center with the use of our clinic suites, exam rooms, and radiology services at no charge. The Shriners Medical Center doctors treat children with serious orthopedic conditions, spinal cord injuries, severe burns or cleft lip and palate. The semi-annual clinics serve approximately 50 children from Southern Arizona and Northern Mexico who require consultation or followup appointments. In conjunction with the Sabbar Shriners, we welcome the Pasadena physicians to Tucson and help them facilitate the visits with their young patients who live in our region. It is our pleasure to support a fellow organization within the masonic family and we look forward to doing so long into the future.

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

MASONIC CHARITIES GRANT #33

www.hospiceofyuma.com Yuma’s Only Non-Profit Hospice – Serving the Community Since 1981. At Hospice of Yuma, our priority is to provide our patients and their family members with quality care and compassion. The first and most important thing to look at when choosing a hospice is their history. Hospice of Yuma had a true grassroots beginning right here in Yuma. In 1979, a local group of medical professionals attended a hospice conference in Phoenix. They returned to Yuma and recognized that the community had a need for hospice services. Over the next year they actively discussed and recruited input from the community. In January 1981, a group of doctors, nurses, clergy, and citizens began to meet at a local hotel café to discuss the need for hospice services in Yuma and to seek out training and educational opportunities. The group met faithfully every week, adding new participants from the community. By November of that year, Hospice of Yuma was established as a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) charity with the IRS and opened its doors. From 1981 through part of 1988, Hospice of Yuma operated solely on the monies collected from fundraising and monetary gifts from the community. In 1988, Hospice of Yuma became a Medicare provider. From 1989 up to the present time, Hospice of Yuma has steadily grown, evolved, and added employees and volunteers to meet the ongoing need for endof-life care in our community. The important thing to remember is that Hospice of Yuma is the only hospice provider in Yuma County that was created here over three decades ago, and we continue to be the only non-profit hospice in the area. Our organization is invested in the community for the benefit of the community. Thank you to Yuma Lodge No. 17 for helping us support this amazing non-profit and presenting the grant check in 2021. Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

Masonic Charities of Arizona—Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Arizona

Charity The Greeks had a word, charisma, meaning a gift, and a number of words from the same root, variously suggesting rejoicing, gladness. The Latins had a similar word, carus, and meaning dear, possibly connected with am or, signifying love. From these roots came "grace," meaning a free, unbought gift, as in the theological phrase, "the grace of God," and "charity." Strictly speaking, charity is an act done freely, and spontaneously out of friendship, not as a civic duty and grudgingly, as is sometimes the case in public charity. The Masonic use of the word is much nearer this original sense, for a Mason extends relief to a needy brother not as a duty but out of friendship. - Source: 100 Words in Masonry