Devon Freemasons to donate £25,000 to good causes
Every Spring and Autumn Freemasons from all around Devon meet to support local organisations who are in need of financial assistance, among which are Children’s charities , Scouts, Youth Centres and locally based charities including Hospices Hospital Services and Cancer Charities.
The money is raised through the “WAKE FUND” a trust conceived by the Right Worshipful Brother William Alexander Kneel, our Provincial Grand Master from 1970 to 1984, the late owner of Kneels laundry & dry cleaners ( now Johnsons). Since the idea was initiated the fund has grown through the continued generosity of Devonshire Freemasons and wise investments, today it stands at £1.88 million from which the trustees distribute the income generated, currently around £50,000 each year.
Since the first disbursement in 2001 over £600,000 has been given to over 700 worthy non masonic organisations and charities throughout Devon, selected by members of the 137 Masonic lodges based in the county.
This year on Friday 28th October at 19.00, The Right Worshipful Brother Ian Kingsbury JP. Provincial Grand Master for Devonshire will be presenting cheques to 27 deserving causes. The meeting will be held at The Masonic Hall Ashleigh Road Uffculme, and will welcome both the members of the press & representatives from the successful organisations accompanied by a member from their nominating lodge who in most cases will also have given generous donations separately to their chosen charity, they will all be able to enjoy a superb reception & buffet, view the lodge building, and any questions asked will be answered by those masons present. They will then receive their cheques totalling the magnificent sum of £27,000.
Among the organisations that will benefit are, Plymouth Children’s Theatre Workshop, Community Health in Lipson, Macmillan Nurses at Derriford, the Cardiology Department Derriford Hospital, Plymouth Music Zone, the Alzheimer’s Society Plymouth, Peninsula Medical Foundation Plymouth, Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust Bovey Tracey, The New Tavistock Youth Café, Ilfracombe RFC, Children’s Hospice South West, Torbay Hospital League of Friends, Torbay Olympic Gymnastics Club, Daisy Play Centre Totnes, Kingsbridge Community College, Newton Abbot Community Transport, Seaton Scout Group, Force Cancer Charity Exeter, D’Arts Crediton, the Queen Elizabeth Academy Trust Crediton, Unite Carers in Mid Devon, Foodcycle Exeter, St. Loyes Foundation Exeter, Dream-A-Way Exeter, Sidmouth Town Band, The Good Samaritans South Molton.
