The total for charities from all the Masonic groups comes to more that 2 million dollars per day .

Masonic Lodges are usually called “Blue” Lodges partially to differentiate them from other Masonic entities. The word “Blue” comes from the majority color used in the lodge room.

All California Masonic (Blue) Lodges participate in two great charities – The Masonic Homes and the California Masonic Foundation.

Masonic Homes of California

Established in 1898 to help Masons affected by the cholera epidemic, the Masonic Homes at Union City and Covina provide a program of quality living, premier health care, and progressive services for Masons and their wives or widows.

For more information, visit www.masonichome.org.

Children’s Home at Covina

This is one of the finest residential programs of its kind in the United States. Children ages 5 to 18 that have been abandoned, abused, or neglected are nurtured in a loving, family-centered environment. Certified family specialists provide family-centered care for up to seven children in each of the houses. Additional houses are being built to meet the increasing demand for this program. More than 1,800 children have thrived in this caring environment. Masonic affiliation is not required.

For more information, visit www.childrenhome.org.

b) The California Foundation provides and sponsors (among other things) student scholarships, the Child ID Program, and the Masonic Student Assistance Program for teachers.

Undergraduate Scholarship Program

The California Masonic Foundation (CMF) provides educational opportunity for those individuals with demonstrated high academic achievement, financial need, and the greatest potential for using education to improve their lives. The guidelines established by the Foundation Scholarship Committee commit us to select for funding those applicants who show the following:

personal commitment to educational goals
readiness for higher education through clear and realistic educational plans
promise of success made evident by a track record of responsibility and persistence

KIDS ID Program

Free fingerprinting and photo identification for children of all ages. Since the program began in 1998, parents of more than 100,000 California children have received this vital information in case their child is ever missing or kidnapped.
The Kids ID program offers parents an opportunity to record their child's fingerprints and photograph. They receive an identification sheet that includes the child's photograph and fingerprints as well as other descriptive information, such as height, weight, eye and hair color, and any distinguishing marks. The entire process takes only a few minutes and can provide useful information to law enforcement officials. The Masons keep no information. The information is given to the parents, or guardians, and they take it home and put it in a safe place.

Masonic Student Assistance Program (MSAP)

An innovative, free three-day training program for teachers and other school personnel to identify at-risk students, provide guidance in redirecting their lives in positive ways - and keep them in school. Since 1994, the MSAP has trained almost 3,000 educators statewide and has helped an estimated 16,500 students.

In addition to the above committments, each Masonic Lodge also has specific local-charities of its own. This is but a sampling, and each listed Lodge listed has many more charitable programs than mentioned.

Placerville Masonic Lodge #26 Scholarship Program

The Placerville Masonic Lodge gives scholarships to needy High School Students that desire to pursue College or formal trade instruction. Many other Masonic Lodges in California do similarly.

Placerville Lodge #26 support of El Dorado Women's Center

Additionally, this past Christmas (2003), Placerville Masonic Lodge gave 30 Christmas food boxes to the El Dorado Women’s Center. Each box had sufficient dinners for 8-10 people. Over 200 people were fed. Also, about $410 in $10 food certificates was also given to the Needy. The year 2003 had been the 8^th year of this program; and in the 8 years, we have donated over 2000 Christmas dinners and near $3200 in $10 gift certificates.

Santa Maria Lodge #580

Each year Santa Maria Lodge No. 580 gives away Easter baskets filled with ham dinners.

San Benito Lodge #211

Canine police unit assistance - When a police officer transferred into the area, he could not bring his partner - his police dog - unless he purchased the dog. San Benito Lodge No. 211 donated the funds to purchase the dog so that the partners could stay together.

Mosaic Lodge #218

Mosaic Lodge No. 218 hosts an annual Christmas party for underprivileged kids. The lodge invites kids from local shelters and other places around Livermore. Santa gives out candy canes and presents donated by lodge members. Some years there is also a free pancake breakfast

Martinez Lodge #41

Martinez Lodge No. 41 gives a backpack stuffed with school supplies to every Martinez second grader at the beginning of each school year. The backpacks are filled with supplies such as pens, rulers, paper, and glue.

Vituvious Lodge No 145

Vitruvious Lodge No. 145 buys dictionaries for a local middle school class every year.

Again, each lodge has many more charities than listed. This list is only to illustrate a few examples. And there certainly isn’t enough space and time to list all the charities of the 364 Masonic Lodges in this State, let alone in the other States, and in the rest of the World.

A few of the Masonic Affiliates are listed next. each affiliate is made up of Masons who seek a greater path to pursue. Each also sponsors more charities than listed.

Nights Templar (of the York Rite)

The Nights Templar sponsors disability research, medical research on causes of arteriosclerosis, and provides financial assistance to those who face loss of sight due to the need for surgical treatment, without regard to race, color, creed, age, sex, or national origin, provided that they are unable to pay or receive adequate assistance from current government agencies or similar sources. And of course, they provide funds for research in curing diseases of the eye.

For more information, visit www.knightstemplar.org/.

Scottish Rite Language Disorder Centers

Speech and language disorders affect approximately six million children in the United States. Today there are 13 Scottish Rite Language Disorder Centers located throughout California provide free diagnosis, therapy, and consultation for infants and children who suffer from aphasia, dyslexia, stuttering, and related learning or speech disorders. At Scottish Rite clinics, centers, and programs in California, many children with communication disorders can be helped to hear, to speak, and to understand.

For more information, visit www.supremecouncil.org/newhome.asp

Shriners Hospitals For Children

There are 22 Shriners Hospitals in the U.S., Canada, and in Mexico., two of which are in California (Sacramento and Los Angeles). These hospitals provide specialized medical and rehabilitation services to children with problems of the spinal cord, bones, joints, and muscles, free of charge. The Shriners Hospitals also treat children with severe burns and pioneered many burn treatments now in use worldwide.
The Shriners Hospital in Sacramento was one of the first four dedicated to the treatment of children with severe burns. The Sacramento hospital also has one of only three spinal cord injury units specifically geared for long-term rehabilitation of children suffering from spinal cord injuries.
For more information, visit www.shrinershq.org.