Texas Masonic Charities Foundation
The Texas Masonic Charities Foundation, a 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation, is the primary charitable organization affiliated with the Grand Lodge of Texas. While the Foundation feels a special responsibility for the care of our members and their families, it also provides support to people with no connection with the Masonic Fraternity. The Texas Masonic Charities Foundation works with local Masonic Lodges to help distribute funds.
MOTTO: Faith, Hope, Charity – Masonic Charities Helping People.
Masonic Children & Family Services
Masonic Children & Family Services of Texas (MCFS) provides for needy and qualified children, families, and widows by providing eligible applicants with information, referral, and/or funding for services.
Mission – Improving the quality of life for children and families of Texas
Vision – Working with the community to promote a positive future for healthier individuals and stronger families
Motto – Strengthening Families for a Brighter Future
Texas Masonic Retirement Center
“Providing for the quality of life, rather than merely lengthening the life span, is perceived to be one of the most important aspects of retirement living.”
Our major challenge has been to provide for continuity of meaningful life experiences for the senior citizen. The Retirement Center remains devoted to making the aging years more secure, abundant and happy.
The focus is on providing for the individuality and dignity of the resident, while at the same time developing a harmonizing relationship with all residents who come to live at the Texas Masonic Retirement Center. Providing for quality of life, rather than merely lengthening the life span, is perceived to be one of the most important aspects of retirement living.
Since its beginnings, the Texas Masonic Retirement Center has operated upon the principles of charity, and has remained dedicated to the service of humanity. Through the years, we have continued to “Build on the Past for the Future.” As the only Masonic Retirement Center in the State of Texas, we are committed to providing a secure living environment for Texas Masons and their families.
Gift of Life – Blood is a Gift of Life
The Gift of Life Program is one of the most exciting and beneficial programs sponsored by the Masons of Texas. Masons are focused on providing the one resource essential to patient-care in the fraternal hospitals and in all health care facilities – and for which there is no substitute. It is human blood.
Every 90 seconds, someone needs a blood transfusion. Blood transfusions are never given without a prescription from a doctor; and without volunteer blood donors, patients cannot receive life-saving transfusions. Volunteer blood donors are the essential link between the ordering physician and the transfusion-dependent patient.
The Gift of Life Program’s emphasis is on hosting frequent blood drives so patients receive the lifesaving gift they need. Gift of Life benefits the three fraternal hospitals: Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, the Shrine Burn Center in Galveston and the Shrine Orthopedic Hospital in Houston, as well as community hospitals throughout the state. The program encourages the Masonic Lodges of Texas to hold community blood drives and to direct the blood and blood products from these drives for the benefit of the three fraternal hospitals or a local community healthcare facility.
Masons’ blood drives benefiting Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas raised more than 5,100 units of blood in 2009. That action allowed physicians to provide needed surgery and other treatments to the children and resulted in a cost-savings to the hospital.
Texas Masons began the Gift of Life Program 15 years ago in the North Texas area, and today, regional committees have expanded to Houston, San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley. The program sponsors blood drives, mostly held within Masonic Lodges. Any annual surplus collected can be used in emergencies, both public and fraternal. The Gift of Life Program is part of a rich Masonic tradition of helping to meet healthcare needs.
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
TSRHC treats Texas children with orthopedic conditions, such as scoliosis, clubfoot, hand disorders, hip disorders and limb length differences, as well as certain related neurological disorders and learning disorders, such as dyslexia.
Knights Templar Eye Foundation
To provide 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 to provide funds for research in curing diseases of the eye.
Shriners Hospital for Children
Shriners Hospitals for Children is a one-of-a-kind international health care system dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing specialty pediatric care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs. Children up to the age of 18 with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate are eligible for admission and receive all care in a family-centered environment at no financial obligation to patients or families
Grotto Humanitarian Foundation
The Grottoes of North America Humanitarian Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization to help bring “Special Smiles” to children with special needs by providing much-needed dental care for them. The program helps cover the costs of dental treatment, including hospital and anesthesia costs when needed, for children with Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy (and related neuromuscular disorders), Organ Transplant recipients or those with Mental Retardation.
