The Masonic Charitable Foundation of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Maine is pleased to announce the nomination of 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organizations to receive $2,000 grants.

The nominations were made by Freemasons interested in helping worthy causes in their local communities. The nominees include groups concerned with animal welfare, education, elder care, food and energy assistance, health and hospice, historic preservation and library services.

Lodges in Boothbay, Bristol, Damariscotta, Dresden and Wiscasset that comprise the Tenth Masonic District have nominated three local organizations to receive a grant. Nominees in these communities are the Boothbay Region Community Resource Council (Food Pantry), the Eldercare Network of Lincoln County and the Community Energy Fund of Lincoln County.

Grants will be awarded in March to one tax-exempt organization in each of the 24 Masonic Districts located throughout Maine, based upon votes cast on the Charitable Foundation website www.masoniccharitablefoundation.org.

Voting will take place during February and everyone may vote once each day from any email address.

All Mainers are urged to vote for their favorite 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt charitable cause. Voters may choose from the three organizations nominated by local Freemasons, or write in and vote for your own nominee.

Everyone is also invited to urge their friends and neighbors to visit the Charitable Foundation website to cast ballots in support of their favorite eligible organization. Spread the word by email, newsletter, Facebook, Twitter or other approaches.

This is the first time that the Masonic Charitable Foundation has offered these public grants. Maine Freemasons also serve their communities by offering the popular Bikes for Books, youth activity, community betterment, project graduation and child identification (CHIP) programs, and by supporting the Maine Masonic College, library and museum and many other activities.

Taken together, the foundation’s charitable initiatives total nearly $400,000 per year. North American Freemasons donate some $3,000,000 per day, every day, to benefit society.

Masons operate the Shriners burns institutes and orthopedic hospitals; host dyslexic learning centers like those in Portland and Bangor; conduct heart, cancer, eye and schizophrenic research; operate Masonic homes and healthcare networks; award scholarships; and support enumerable other programs that improve the quality of life and society.

Questions about this new grant program may be addressed to Mark Rustin, the Grand Secretary, at 207-843-1086, 555- 843-1086 or grandsecretary@mainemason.org.

For information on Lodges in your Masonic District, please visit the Grand Lodge website, www.mainemason.org, and click on Maine Lodges — Lodge Locator, or Lodges by District.