Devon Freemasons have given £25,000 Support to Local Charities & Organisations
Every spring and autumn, Freemasons from around Devon meet to support local organisations and charities who require financial assistance. Those included are schools, youth centres and locally based charities including hospices, hospital services and cancer charities. Sadly this year, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Freemasons are unable to meet in the usual manner to distribute the cheques but never the less have still made the donations. Instead of gathering together, Freemasons have had to send the money directly to the charities concerned.
The money is raised through the Wake Fund, a trust conceived by William Alexander Kneel, the Provincial Grand Master of Devonshire from 1970 to 1984. Since the idea was initiated, the fund has grown through the continued generosity of Devonshire Freemasons and wise investments, today totalling almost £2 million, from which the trustees distribute the income generated, currently £50,000 each year.
Since the first disbursement in 2001, over £820,000 has been given to over 900 worthy organisations and charities throughout Devon. They were all selected by members of the 131 Freemasons lodges based throughout the county.
On 29th May 2020, Ian Kingsbury, Provincial Grand Master for Devonshire, was to present cheques to 24 deserving causes at a meeting due to be held at The Mount Edgcumbe Masonic Hall, totalling £25,000.
With donations made directly to the charities instead, Ian Kingsbury said: 'I am delighted that the Freemasons of Devon are able to continue to contribute to these important local causes, many of which are totally run by volunteers and hopefully these donations will make a real difference to the lives of many people, especially in these difficult times when all charities and community initiatives are so short of funding. We as Freemasons are very aware of the continued needs of others and continue to try to make a difference.'
Among the organisations that have benefited are:
- Burston Meadows Recreation Group
- Mill Water School
- Budleigh Community Youth Project
- Heads Up Mental Health
- Sidmouth Hospiscare
- Torbay Assessment Investigation & Rehabilitation Unit Charitable Trust
- Torquay RFU under 10’s
- Rowcroft Hospice
- Purple Angel Dementia Awareness
- Totnes Caring
- Dart Trekkers
- East Teignbridge Community Transport.
- Woodlands Pre-School
- Chestnut Appeal
- Get Up & Go
- Plymouth & Cornwall Cancer Fund
- Crohns & Colitis Devon Network
- Salvation Army
- The High Dependency Unit at Derriford Hospital
- Plymouth Drake Sea Cadets & Royal Marine Cadets, 2039 Squadron
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