| The Mount Washington lodge #87 F. & A. M. is pleased to sponsor the Mount Washington Valley Masonic Angel Fund.
The Masonic Angel Fund provides modest assistance to needy children who do not fit the criteria for the usual social-service programs. Such assistance might be to provide necessary items and services such as, but not limited to:
| • Eyeglasses |
• Eyeglass repairs |
| • Basic clothing |
• Seasonal outerwear |
| • Shoes or sneakers |
• Scholarships to after school
or summer programs |
| • Field trip fees |
• School supplies |
| • Books |
• Book club memberships |
| • Minor health services |
• Minor dental services |
| • Bicycle repairs |
• Other appropriate needs |
Applications for assistance will be fulfilled via confidential requests from the local school designees.
To this point the Mount Washington Valley Masonic Angel Fund has helped more than 100 local needy children with gifts of food, clothing, gasoline cards, as well as paying for after school programs.
In providing these services, it is Mount Washington Lodge’s intention not to have direct contact with the child or family. Our preferred mode of delivery is to receive a request from the designee and work with the designee to fulfill the stated need in the most timely manner possible. Thus far, we have been able to respond to requests within a few hours.
For example, if you discover a child that needs a winter coat simply make your request known to the Trustees who will issue a check to the designee in an appropriate amount.
In cases where professional services (i.e. medical, dental, optical…etc.) we will work with the school to make available our numerous sources of this nature. Some of the Masons are health care professionals, so there is an excellent chance we may be able to arrange a donation of services or services at a vastly reduced fee.
If you have questions about the Masonic Angel Fund, please feel free to contact David Correa – 603-986-8618 or Jim Kane - 603-694-3066 or E-Mail – masonicangelfund@gmail.com .
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The Masonic Angel Fund™ is the fastest-growing Masonic charity anywhere. Founded in 1998 by the members of Universal Lodge A.F. & A.M. in Orleans, Massachusetts, the "MAF" has spread to 141 Lodges in 13 states since it first offered sponsorship of affiliate Masonic Angel Funds in the summer of 2000. The Masonic Angel Fund™ is changing kids' lives - one community at a time, one child at a time.
A cornerstone of the Masonic Angel Fund™ program is the close relationship that develops between the local school system and the sponsoring Lodge. Because MAF standards require that all screening of requests be performed by the school's professional staff, the Masons are cast in a purely supportive role rather than in one that requires them to screen and qualify every application. This means that those who operate the local Fund can respond very quickly once they are contacted by the school. This quick response contrasts strongly with many "institutional" relief services where days or weeks can elapse between the time of a request and an answer being received. Our ability to serve the school professionals in a rapid, efficient manner underscores the image of Masons as the "can do" people in the community.Not only is the Masonic Angel Fund™ an excellent program for the community - it is also a positive force to create enthusiasm amongst the Craft by providing opportunities to do generous things for children. The Angel Fund is a successful vehicle for presenting Freemasonry to the community as a socially relevant, beneficial body of normal, everyday people and for helping to dispel our aura of mystery.
One of the fundamental principles of the Masonic Angel Fund™ program is that 100% of the money raised by a local Lodge's Masonic Angel Fund™ stays in that community and goes to the kids. All overhead of the local MAF is covered by the sponsoring Lodge from its operating budget. There are few charity programs anywhere that can make such a claim.
The Fund provides modest assistance to children in need who do not fit the criteria for the usual social-service programs. Such assistance might be to provide a pair of glasses, a coat, shoes, field trip fees or minor health services. MAF benevolences can cover almost any need that will enhance a child's learning experience - some Masonic Angel Funds even provide scholarships for music and fine arts instruction. Applications for assistance will be fulfilled via confidential requests from local school principals, counselors and school nurses.
For example, if the nurse discovers a child who needs a winter coat she simply makes a request to the Trustees of the Angel Fund who will issue a check to the principal or nurse in an appropriate amount.
In cases where professional services are required (i.e. medical, dental, optical…etc.) the local MAF works with the school to make available our numerous sources for services of this nature. Some of our Masonic Brothers are health care professionals, so there is an excellent chance we may be able to arrange the donation of products or services.
Best of all, each Masonic Angel Fund™ is managed by members of your local Masonic Lodge. Each local MAF agrees to maintain standards set forth by the Masonic Angel Foundation, Inc. Within the scope of the "Ten Standards" observed by every MAF - all decision-making is done by local Trustees who are selected by their own Lodge.
The Masonic Angel Foundation, Inc. was established by members of Universal Lodge on July 1, 2000. Its mission is to facilitate the adoption of Masonic Angel Funds™ by other Masonic Lodges around the nation.
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