As we approach the end of 2001, the Masonic Homes are making plans for providing charity to our fellow brethren and those in our communities in need. Please consider taking the time to review the opportunities available to us to help others through the Masonic Homes while considering the best way of making a gift to fund a specific need. In particular, gifts to programs that impact the community exemplify a principal characteristic of the Fraternity. These programs include the Masonic Children's Home, which provides care for children from families in which the parents/guardian can no longer cope with the complexities of child-rearing. The Masonic Homes' Residential/Respite Program provides services for adults with mild to moderate mental retardation. The Adult Daily Living Center provides adult day care services to individuals 18 and older with functional impairments. The Outreach Program provides information, direction, and education to individuals and families throughout the United States in many areas of need. Gift opportunities are also available at the Masonic Village at Sewickley and the Masonic Homes at Elizabethtown where we are in the process of expanding and upgrading our facilities to provide an array of services to our residents.

Listed below are several specific items that are in need of funding for 2002. Your kind consideration of making a gift to underwrite one of these items will help to assure that these services can be provided in 2002 and beyond. Among them are the following:

Masonic Children's Home: New living room furniture for a cottage, replacement van.

Adult Daily Living Center: Wheelchair accessible minibus, dishwasher, fax machine.

Outreach Program: New computer.

Expansion at the Masonic Village at Sewickley:Nurse call system, medication carts, aviary.

Renovations/Upgrades to Masonic Homes - Elizabethtown: Upgrade Village Green resident rooms, medication carts, rehabilitation exercise equipment, new piano.

Ways You Can Give

There are several ways of giving your gift to the Masonic Homes.

Cash Contributions ­ always the easiest way to give a gift. If you are in need of a charitable deduction at year-end or would like to make a difference, consider a cash gift to one of the aforementioned items at the Masonic Homes.

Gift of Appreciated Stock ­ even in a down stock market, many people continue to have appreciated stock in their portfolio that they have held for many years which could be contributed toward a specific need. For stock held more than one year, you will receive a deduction equal to the fair market value of the stock and avoid tax on any of the growth of the stock over what you paid for it. Giving the growth in your stock is a good idea especially where you want to make a larger gift for a specific need.

Stock that has Depreciated ­ for those stocks where the prospect of growth is limited, a donor may want to consider selling the stock, taking a loss and contributing the cash from the sale toward a specific need at the Masonic Homes. This way the donor receives a deduction for both the loss and the charitable contribution of cash.

No matter how you want to give, making a difference in the lives of others through the Masonic Homes is a meaningful way to make a gift. For additional information, please contact either Bro. Alvin H. Blitz, Esq. or Bro. John R. McFadden at 1-(800)-599-6454 or (717)-367-1121, ext. 33312. We look forward to helping you help others.