MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – The Freemasons of district South Africa North, which includes the Lion of the North Lodge of Louis Trichardt and the Messina Lodge, are to donate an amount of R1 million to the “Reach for a Dream Foundation”.

The foundation works towards “fulfilling the dreams of children with life-threatening illnesses”.

This will be the biggest single grant which the foundation has ever received and it is in line with the policy of the freemasons of the district to attempt to give a amount large enough to have a significant impact to a single charity each year, in addition to smaller amounts averaging about R300 000 in total annually to a number of other charities.

The name of this year’s recipient for the major donation was announced by the District Grand Master, Gerald Fotinakas, at the 109th annual meeting of the District Grand Lodge on Saturday two weeks ago, which was attended by about 1 000 freemasons. The donation will be handed over to the foundation at a banquette later this month.

In recent years, the annual significant donations by the Freemasons of the district have been aimed towards organizations providing support to children. Last year, R500 000 was allocated to the Police Widows and Orphans Fund. In 2002, R1 million was donated to Childline, which was also the largest single amount which Childline had ever received. Prior to that, R750 000 went to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and R250 000 to the Avril Elizabeth Home for mentally retarded children.

In addition, each of the 120 lodges in the district donates to local worthy causes. In the past five years, R6.4 million has been given to non-masonic charities by the freemasons of the district. All money raised by the freemasons comes from their own members and not from fundraising drives in the general public.

The freemasons of the district also support masonic charities such as a retirement complex and old age home, known as the Masonic Haven, at the Willows in Pretoria. The Haven includes a frail care centre and the total complex is now valued at over R40 million. The Haven provides both economic and subsided retirement options to freemasons and their widows.