Charitable Projects

GEORGIAN SOUTH DISTRICT PROJECT 2024 – 2025

Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation. As the community around us continues to grow we have learned that what is needed more than ever, is an updated, modernized hospital. While Stevenson Memorial Hospital continues to serve patients with the highest quality health care, we also continue to work toward a redeveloped hospital for the communities in South Simcoe and surrounding areas.

Our district project is to aid the Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation’s bold, $43 million campaign to purchase essential equipment, upgrade leading-edge technology, and complete the critical renovations which is essential for this transformative redevelopment.

To learn more about the Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation, please visit: www.transformingstevenson.ca

Any and all donations will be thankfully received and faithfully applied.

Use the Masonic Foundation of Ontario project number 2483 in all correspondence, donations etc.

GEORGIAN SOUTH DISTRICT PROJECT 2021 – 2022

Project Closed

Matthews House Hospice, located in Alliston/South Simcoe County, Ontario, is a regional service that walks together with families through the journey of illness and grief. They offer a variety of day programs, counselling, palliative care and resident round-the-clock services for individuals suffering from illness and their families.

Matthew’s House was named after Ernie and Helen Matthew, long-time residents of the area who operated a farm in the Cookstown area. Their charitable work and selfless giving were recognized with the naming and building of a beautiful new structure in the heart of Alliston. Comprising almost 27,000 sq. ft at a cost of $6.8 million dollars, Matthew’s House operates 10 fully equipped hospice care units with full nursing staff and amenities. But for Alliston and our surrounding communities of Georgian South District it also offers a great deal more. Over 30 different full-time programs are provided including ongoing grief counseling, bereavement workshops, helping youths deal with loss, and many volunteer help programs for those requiring hospice care in their own homes.

These services are free to all in need, but this comes at an understandably great price. Matthew’s House has an annual operating budget of $2.8 million dollars which is funded less than 30% by the government. Matthew’s House needs the support of the community to continue their vital work. As we face the uncertainty of resuming our labours under the cloud of the Covid pandemic, our District Project fundraising activities remain unclear at this time. What is clear is that there is a need, and I am sure the Brethren of Georgian South District will meet the challenge just as we have done so well in years gone by.

To learn more about Matthews House Hospice, please visit: www.matthewshousehospice.ca

GEORGIAN SOUTH DISTRICT PROJECT 2019 – 2021

Project Closed

Shriners Hospitals For Children

Shriners Hospitals for Children was founded in 1922 with the goal of providing expert medical care for children with no financial burden to the patients or their families.

Today that philanthropic effort supports the health care system’s 22 facilities across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, treating children up to 18 years of age who have orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, cleft lip and palate, and more. Our advanced care is provided in a family-centered environment that is focused on maximizing a child’s quality of life, regardless of the families’ ability to pay.

Shriners Hospitals for Children has a mission to:
Provide the highest quality care to children with neuromusculoskeletal conditions, burn injuries and other special healthcare needs within a compassionate, family-centered and collaborative care environment.
Provide for the education of physicians and other healthcare professionals.
Conduct research to discover new knowledge that improves the quality of care and quality of life of children and families.
This mission is carried out without regard to race, color, creed, sex or sect, disability, national origin, or ability of a patient or family to pay.

Shriners Hospitals For Children Vision Statement:

Become the best at transforming children’s lives by providing exceptional healthcare through innovative research, in a patient and family-centered environment.

A man never stands as tall as when he stoops to help a child

Project Conclusion

It was my great pleasure to present the Rameses Shriners with the proceeds from the Georgian South District Project #2663 for the Shriners Hospitals for Children. The presentation was made at the Rameses Shriners headquarters in Toronto on Saturday December 18th, 2021 prior to the Rameses Carol service. Illustrious Potentate, Shawn W. Hewlett, and the Chief Rabban, Donald A. Campbell, received the cheque with great pleasure and appreciation.

I would like to express my extreme gratitude and heart-felt appreciation to all those who supported me, and the Shriners Hospitals for Children, for their kind generosity and fundraising efforts, especially given the restrictions brought about by the pandemic. I would also like to convey my sincere thanks to the Masonic Foundation of Ontario for administrative support and for their generous contribution to the project.

It was an uplifting and rewarding experience to have made this presentation for $28,000.00, and for such a worthy charity!

Sincerely and fraternally your humble servant,
R.W. Bro. Jeff Johnson
Past DDGM 2019-2021
Georgian South District

GEORGIAN SOUTH DISTRICT PROJECT 2018 – 2019

Project Closed

Barrie and District Food banks

The Barrie Food Bank began in 1984 as an amalgamation of church based services. The desire was to consolidate efforts in a central location for assisting those individuals and families in need.

The Mission of the Barrie Food Bank:

It is the mission of the Barrie Food Bank to provide temporary food relief to individuals and families of our community who are in need, and to serve as a resource to guide them along the road to self sufficiency.

The Vision:
A Community Where No One is Hungry.

Core Values:
Respect

Compassion

Independence and self sufficiency

Service excellence

Your support to help this worthwhile project and the charitable donations made through Spry lodge towards project # 2641 was greatly appreciated.

GEORGIAN SOUTH DISTRICT PROJECT 2017 – 2018

Project Closed

Camphill Communities Angus

The District Project, #2627a, for the 2017-18 Masonic Year is to raise funds for Camphill Communities Ontario, who are a not-for-profit organization that provides support services to adults and seniors in Simcoe County who have an intellectual disability. They support people in directing their own lives and in promoting partnerships, opportunities, well-being, freedom and contributions in their community.

Their Vision is; A community where people of diverse abilities enjoy quality of life and personal growth in a rich social and cultural environment.

Camphill’s mission is to enrich society by creating meaningful opportunities to live, learn, and work together.

For more information visit www.camphill.on.ca

Your support to help this worthwhile project and the charitable donations made through Spry lodge towards project # 2627a was greatly appreciated.

GEORGIAN SOUTH DISTRICT PROJECT 2016 – 2017

Project Closed

Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County

R.W. Bro. Phillip J. Laundry has chosen the Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County as the charity worthy of the 2016/17 District Project fund-raising drive.

Behind every person with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, there are hundreds of people dedicated to helping. The Alzheimer Society is the leading not-for-profit health organization working nationwide to improve the quality of life for Canadians affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and advance the search for the cause and cure. They are located in every province across Canada and in over 140 local communities. Since 1978, they’ve been dedicated to providing help for people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their caregivers. That help comes in many ways.

Money raised for the Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County stays within Simcoe County and supports 3 major aspects of important work:

1. Providing support, socialization, and education to those living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, and their care partners.

2. Providing dementia education and training to professionals and health care staff to ensure quality care for people living with dementia.

3. Increasing awareness and understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and the impact on those living with the disease, their care partners and our broader society.

For more information visit www.alzheimer.ca/en/simcoecounty

Your support to help this worthwhile project and the charitable donations made through Spry lodge towards project # 2612 was greatly appreciated.

SPECIAL REPORT FROM THE SPRY LODGE BENEVOLENCE AND CHARITABLE REQUESTS COMMITTEE

M.W. Bro. Raymond S.J. Daniels, Past Grand Master, coined a phrase in one of his lectures – “Masonry is the Science of Service.”

Brethren, on behalf of this Committee, the Simcoe Independent Living Association, and a senior resident in our community, I would like to thank the members of Spry Lodge for their support and generous charitable contributions in the purchase of the wheelchair for this senior. The recipient received the chair on the Tuesday following our April meeting. At the request of his daughter I met briefly with the recipient and he asked me to pass on his sincerest gratitude to the members of our Lodge. The recipient, a Veteran, was definitely in need of this custom fitted chair, and because of this new mobility, this Gentleman’s life has become immeasurably easier.

Again, thank you Brethren for being true to the values of the Fraternity and quietly assisting those in need and less fortunate than ourselves.

Sincerely and Fraternally, R.W. Bro. Paul Gower, Chairman.

GEORGIAN SOUTH DISTRICT PROJECT 2014 – 2015

Project Closed

The 2014-2015 District Project is in support of the Simcoe Chapter of Canadian Cancer Society for Prostate Cancer.

The Masonic Foundation of Ontario has assigned this charitable cause the project # 2568.

Click here for the Project # 2568 Report

SPRY LODGE PROJECT 2014

Project Closed

About the Madison (Madi) Vanstone Project:

The project was to raise funds and assist the Vanstone family of Beeton who have a 12 year old girl named Madison who suffers from Cystic Fibrosis. She has found quality of life by taking a new drug called Kaledyco. This drug is made by a U.S. pharmaceutical company and was at the time not covered by OHIP. The cost of the drug per year per individual is $348,000.00! The Vanstone’s medical plan covered a huge part of it, however, the family still has to pay $5,700.00 a month out of pocket. The family has made a plea to the Provincial Liberals to assist and cover the drug, but to little avail (until recently). Spry Lodge had an initial goal of raising the cost of one month’s supply ASAP to help the family. We worked through the Masonic Foundation of Ontario so tax receipts could be issued to those who contribute to the project (Project #2555).

We thank all those individuals, corporations, and/or organizations who demonstrated their charitable nature and helped us support this family with the huge shortfall they incur every month funding this drug for their daughter that she needs to help her live a LONGER and HEALTHIER life.

GEORGIAN SOUTH DISTRICT PROJECT 2013 – 2014

Project Closed

Hospice Simcoe (this years District Project) comforts and empowers those living with life-threatening illness and bereavement.

About Hospice Simcoe:

Hospice Palliative Care aims to improve quality of life for those living with a life-limiting illness. This comprehensive model of care includes pain and symptom management in conjunction with social, psychological, spiritual and practical support.

Support is available from the initial diagnosis of the illness for as long as support is required. Most clients come to us after receiving a cancer diagnosis but our supports are available for anyone living with any life threatening illness. This includes, but is not limited to HIV/AIDS, end stage lung, kidney or heart disease, ALS and advanced neurological conditions.

Thank you for your help and support.

GEORGIAN SOUTH DISTRICT PROJECT 2012 – 2013

Project Closed

This 2012-2013 year’s District Project was in support of War Amps of Canada.

Your support to help this worthwhile project and the charitable donations made through Spry lodge towards project # 2498 was greatly appreciated.

GEORGIAN SOUTH DISTRICT PROJECT 2011 – 2012

Project Closed

Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario

The 2011 – 2012 year’s District Project was in support of the Barrie branch of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario and the Cardiac Ward of the Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket.

Virtually all families of our members have been touched in some way by heart disease, and we are very fortunate to live in an area which has such wonderful facilities. Many of our members and their families have directly benefited from the research and/or health care provided by these two organizations. It is the hope of the District Project Committee and our DDGM that this campaign will receive active support during the coming Masonic year.

GEORGIAN SOUTH DISTRICT PROJECT 2010 – 2011

Project Closed

The 2010 – 2011 District Project was in support of the Canadian Paraplegic Association (CPA) Ontario. The Canadian Paraplegic Association Ontario is divided into regions to better serve local communities. Georgian South District is covered, in its entirety, by the Barrie Regional office.

Their mission: To assist persons with spinal cord injuries (SCI) and other physical disabilities to achieve independence, self-reliance and full community participation.

Regional Services: The Regional Service Coordinators (RSC) assists clients with spinal cord injuries or other physical disabilities in the transition from acute care through rehabilitation and back into the community. This program delivers customized, client-focused solutions for people with unique needs.

The RSC Ontario focuses on: the adjustment to disability, caregiver support, housing, employment, funding, education, independent living, equipment, health and wellness. The RSC works closely with its community partners throughout the continuum of community supports. They focus on client centered goals and solutions, while navigating system barriers and road blocks that prevent equitable access to health care services, long-term health and quality of life.

CPA Ontario is a community expert on SCI, providing practical help, advocacy and service to people with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities as they integrate into their communities.

Services are available through telephone, e-mail and in person from their offices, in the clients’ homes or at mutually convenient locations. Flexibility is the key.

Recognizing that every person and situation is unique, they encourage and support individuals to finding ways to live independently.

TO BE ONE, ASK ONE