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.

Grants will be awarded in February 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 from January 15 through January 31, and everyone may vote once per day.

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.

The three nominees in the Boothbay-Damariscotta-Wiscasset region are: Caring for Kids; the Community Energy Fund of Lincoln County; and the Boothbay Region Community Resources Council.

This is the second year 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 relief 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 health care networks; award scholarships; and support enumerable other programs that improve the quality of life and society.

Questions about this grant program may be addressed to Mark Rustin, the Grand Secretary, at 207- 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.