The Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation
The Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation website for Edmonton can be reached here.
At its Annual Session in 1964 the Supreme Council resolved to establish a vehicle through which to practice that virtue that every mason professes to admire — namely charity. Later that same year it caused to be incorporated by Letters Patent under the Companies Act (Canada), The Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada. Registration was effected with Revenue Canada. The Letters Patent provided that all donations would be immediately capitalized. Donors would receive receipts for their donations which would be treated as entirely deductible for tax purposes, but only the income earned by the capital — to the extent of at least 90% — would be required to be disbursed annually. The first donation to the Foundation was a transfer from the Supreme Council of securities in the value of $100,000.
The story of the inception and growth of the Foundation from 1964-1984 is recounted in the official history authored by Ill. Bro. Donald M. Fleming, 33°, entitled “The First Twenty Years”. A second volume of our history, entitled “Our History Volume Two”, was authored by Ill. Bro. D. Garry Dowling, 33°, and covers the years 1985-2014.
Since being incorporated, the Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation (SRCF) of Canada has been funding medical research in universities and hospitals across Canada into ‘puzzles of the mind’, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other neuro-degenerative ailments in the aging population and areas such as Dyslexia and Autism in children. Each year the SRCF donates approximately $480,000 to qualified researchers to continue their essential and worthwhile research.
In addition, the Foundation assists local organizations (Valleys) in starting Learning Centres for Dyslexic Children. These Centres provide free tutoring for children to help them overcome their reading difficulties and by training a growing cadre of highly skilled and dedicated tutors. Learning Centres have been licensed and are operational in London, Halifax, Windsor, Vancouver, Moncton, Barrie, Calgary and Edmonton with a new Centre expected to be operational later this year in Hamilton.
Donations are received from several sources. All members of the Rite are encouraged to make annual contributions through the blue envelopes provided to them by each Valley across Canada. Valleys and clubs organize special fund-raising events with the proceeds designated for the Foundation. Donations are received with memorial cards in memory of departed loved ones. Bequests are a major source of receipts, and members are encouraged to remember the Foundation in their wills.
In 2014 the Foundation celebrated its 50th anniversary by embarking on a campaign to raise $1 million of new capital. By the end of the year over $1.6 million had been raised through the generosity of donors across Canada.
Anyone who, over a period but not exceeding five years, makes contributions that total at least $500, is designated a Fellow of The Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada and is entitled to receive and wear a sterling pin crafted in the shape of the Foundation Logo.