Freemasons Donate To Five Local Charities
Five local charities each received $3,000 from the Freemasons Fund for Bermuda, supporting their work in health, disability services, martial arts, and community care.
A spokesperson said, “Chris Swan, the president of the Freemasons Fund for Bermuda, presented letters of recognition and charitable intent to Bermuda Sanshou Association, DailyMale, P.A.L.S., WindReach, and Vision Bermuda, to acknowledge the donations. The funds were raised from the various Masonic Lodges in Bermuda and donations from individual Freemasons.”
Mr. Swan said, “It is my pleasure to make this formal presentation on behalf of all Freemasons in Bermuda, of $3,000 each to these worthy Bermudian charities who do a marvelous job in fulfilling their aims and objectives.”
Bermuda Sanshou Association, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, had a mission to create a vehicle for Bermudian athletes and coaches to compete at the highest level in Chinese martial arts. President Garon Wilkinson said, “While we do receive support from Youth & Sports and the Olympic Association… we’re really thankful for this wholehearted donation.”
DailyMale is a mobile-health clinic offering free screening for prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease. DailyMale Co-founder, Dr. Jade Robinson said, “We identified the inequalities of men’s health and awareness, in particular with prostate cancer and wanted to create an initiative to target that.” The community-led charity began in 2023 and has recently welcomed the arrival of a state-of-the-art mobile health vehicle on the island.
P.A.L.S. provides quality care and support for cancer patients. Clinical Nurse Manager, Julie Harrington said, “On behalf of P.A.L.S., I would like to thank you all for thinking of us when donating this generous amount of money.” The charity was founded in 1980 and today spends over $5,000 a day on patient care, employing several staff including six Specialized Nurses and a Medical Social Worker.
WindReach is a 10-acre facility offering therapeutic and educational experiences for people with varying physical and intellectual abilities. Executive Director, Kate Terceira said, “On behalf of WindReach I want to thank you all for this amazing donation. WindReach’s mission is to enrich the lives of those with diverse support needs.”
The spokesperson said, “Located in Warwick, the premises feature an Activity Centre, Animal Zone, and a Therapeutic Riding Centre.”
Vision Bermuda provides services for those with vision impairment, including vision rehabilitation therapy, orientation and mobility support, assistive technology training, good vision care awareness, and an audiobook library. Executive Director, Erica Ingemann said, “On behalf of Vision Bermuda, I would like to thank the Freemasons Fund For Bermuda for supporting our cause. The monies will be used towards improving and continuing our vision rehabilitation services.” The organization has been serving Bermuda since 1957.
