Our Charities Our Charities
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From its earliest days, Freemasonry has been concerned with the care of orphans, the sick and the aged. Contrary to popular belief, one does not have to be a Freemason to benefit from Masonic charity. Freemasonry is second only to the National Lottery in the level of money donated to charitable causes in the UK. Whilst some Masonic Charities do cater specifically for masons and their dependants, others do a great deal of non-Masonic charitable giving. Over the last few years this has included the provision of a lifeboat to the RNLI; £250,000 to the Great Ormond Street Hospital Wishing Well appeal; the endowing of a Chair in Gerontology at Cambridge University; support to Crisis at Christmas, research into drug abuse, research into cancer and heart disease, and over £500,000 donated to Hospices throughout the country. In addition, large sums have been given to disaster appeals both at home and abroad. Chatsworth Lodge strongly supports local charities and gives generously to local hospitals, hospices, churches and other good causes. We also contribute to the Sussex 4 Sussex Provincial Charity Fund which gives sums of money to regional causes, such as £100,000 presented to the Sussex Air Ambulance appeal, and a further £50,000 will be presented in the very near future. Nationally, our efforts are channelled through four main charity organisations. As at August 2009, the 'Sussex 4 Sussex' appeal has donated £1,532,163 to charitable causes in Sussex. |
