CHARITABLE GIVING AND FUNDRAISING

PARTNERS FOR LIFE CAMPAIGN REACHES GOAL OF TEN MILLION DOLLARS!

In 2009, a dream was successfully achieved as the Partners for Life campaign goal of ten million dollars was reached.  In 2004, the Masons and Stars of Minnesota knew there needed to be more resources in the fight to find a cure for cancer.  The campaign was created to raise $10 Million to help to build a new Masonic Cancer Clinic on the campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis.

The dream was to provide a building where cancer research trials could be conducted in a more comfortable and welcoming space for patients and their families. The dream was to create state-of-the-art facilities providing the type of necessary physical layout and resources for University physicians and researchers to continue their quest for scientific breakthroughs. And now, groundbreaking is scheduled for 2010-2011.

2009 Partners for Life campaign:
846 (including pledges) = $279,601
Campaign total - $10,075 million

• Through individual and corporate contributions, as well as the success of the MMC 2008 GALA, nearly $ $700,640 was raised in 2009 (apart from the Partners for Life gifts and contributions.)
• 2009 saw the creation of the foremost legacy society for Minnesota Masons and Stars: The Pillars Society, and an exciting opportunity to become a Charter member. The Pillars Society was newly created to preserve and recognize those making special gifts to Minnesota Masonic philanthropy and provide the opportunity for "timeless" giving through current as well as planned gifts (planned bequests, trusts and estate gifts.

SCHOLARSHIPS

In 2009, $600,000 was granted to MMC Scholarships

Signature Scholarships 
Minnesota Masonic Charities continued its very successful scholarship program, building on the launch of the Signature Scholarships along with three Masonic Legacy Scholarships in 2008.

In 2009, eight students who demonstrated academic and personal achievement from all corners of the state were scholarship recipients. Five recipients were awarded the Signature Scholarships, in the amount of $5,000 annually (renewable up to $20,000).

• It was also the second year that awards were given on behalf of the Masonic Legacy Scholarships:   two students were awarded the William F. Mackintosh Masonic Scholarship for $4,000 annually (renewable up to $16,000 and one student was awarded the Robert and Alta Van Tries Masonic Scholarship for $4,000 annually (also renewable up to $16,000.)
• 2009 was also the first year to award the renewable scholarships to those recipients who maintained a 3.0 GPA in their first year of college and successfully applied for a renewable scholarship.  All eight recipients of 2008 Signature and Masonic Legacy Scholarships were awarded renewed scholarships for the year 2009.

The Matching Funds Lodge and Chapter Scholarship program

Available to all Minnesota Masonic Lodges and Eastern Star Chapters, the local Lodge and Chapter are asked to select the students and to determine the amount of the scholarships. Minnesota Masonic Charities then matches the local scholarships, up to the maximum matching award per Lodge and Chapter of $1,500.

• In 2009, 119 Lodges, 18 Chapters provided 380 scholarships to their local communities, with a match of $151, 000 from Minnesota Masonic

The General Edward W. Waldon Scholarship

• Named in honor of Masonic Past Grand Master and retired Major General Edward W. Waldon, who once commanded the Minnesota National Guards' 47th “Viking” Infantry Division, the General Edward W. Waldon Scholarship made available one hundred (100) $1,000 scholarship awards to members of the Minnesota National Guard and Reserve Units who have served in the combat zones since 9/11/2001.
• The awards program was administered by the Grand Lodge of Minnesota, with a matching grant of $50,000 from Minnesota Masonic Charities.

The awards were created to pay tuition at the school of choice or applied towards the cost of the Chapter 30 Montgomery GI Bill administrative fee, and the scholarships were not based on grades or past results as a student.

DISTRIBUTION OF GRANTS

• In 2009, $3,935,000 was granted to MMC Heritage Charities through annual budget approval by the MMC Board of Directors.
• $367,717 was awarded to Lodges, Chapters and Masonic affiliates through the Matching Funds Grants program, including the Order of the Eastern Star, Scottish Rite and other organizations.

PUBLIC RELATIONS     

The 2009 MMC GALA, An Evening to Remember, was held for the first time at Landmark on the Bluffs, the beautiful venue located in Bloomington and was a successful fundraising event as well as a popular opportunity for MMC friends and family to attend an elegant social evening featuring musical entertainment, great food and the tempting raffle items. 

COMMUNICATIONS

• Developed and designed a magazine, The Pillars, in support of the newly-created legacy society, The Pillars Society. Two issues, spring and fall, were distributed statewide to Lodges, Chapters, grant beneficiaries and other friends of Minnesota Masonic Charities.
• Completed re-construction with enhanced graphics, information, online employment site and downloads on the Minnesota Masonic Homes web site at www.mnmasonichomes.org
• Created a micro-site for the Masonic Cancer Center Fund, with all new information and links to the University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center which is now accessed through the Minnesota Masonic Charities main site: www.mnmasoniccharities.org.
• Continued to provide content for the two-page center spread of the MN Mason designated as the MMC segment and one page for the monthly Order of Eastern Star newsletter, Starlites.

GOVERNANCE

Added a Director of Sales and Marketing for Minnesota Masonic Homes, Bloomington and North Ridge