Royal Arch Masons of Canada
in the Province of Ontario

Medical Research Fund

Chapters: Remember to make use of Lodge summons to promote special events within your chapter

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22nd November 2006

Dear Sirs and Companions,

MEDICAL RESEARCH FUND – RELEASE-A-MIRACLE

During the Summer months of 2005.,a letter was sent to all Grand Superintendents to congratulate them on their preferment and encouraging them to promote the Grand Chapter Charities, especially "Release-a-Miracle’ and to encourage the Companions in their Districts to start projects, raising funds for this extremely important commitment that has been made by the Royal Arch Masons within our jurisdiction.

A brochure was designed and distributed to the Districts highlighting the History of the Fund, How the funds are raised and its objectives, together, with general information on the programs that have been supported.

Over the past Twenty-Three years an amount in excess of Seven Hundred Thousand ($700.000.00) Dollars has been donated to medical Research programs. Over the past few years there have been approximately Eight to Ten research areas selected and supported on a yearly basis. In 2005/2006, instead of spreading smaller amounts over a greater area, It was decided to concentrate larger amounts to more centralized projects. Those projects selected were: Autism., Prostrate Cancer and Arthritis.

1. Dr. Jeanette J. A. Holden, Director., Autistic Spectrum Disorders $9,000.00
Queens University for research into Genetics and epidemiology

2. Dr. Neil Fleshner, Division of Urology Head, University Health Network
$6,000.00 investigating the relationship of Dietary factors to Prostate Cancer

3.    Dr. Edward Keystone, Director for advanced Therapeutics in Arthritis
       AARC Foundation, University Health Network, Research on new treatment
       models $6,000.00

Our financial efforts in the past have been very commendable but, over the last few years we have seen a significant downturn in investment income. No longer do we enjoy the 8 to 10% return on investment and, in order to maintain our support at these levels., we need continued contributions to the principal of the Fund.

At our Annual Convocation in April 2006. The Grand First Principal, in his inaugural address, urged once again, that we concentrate our efforts in the fight against Autism. In order to make this a really meaningful contribution we would need to have a minimum of $1,000,000 in our Medical Research Fund., a number that we have not yet reached. He appealed to all Royal Arch Masons, to re-double our efforts, to donate to this worthwhile cause and most strongly encouraged us to do so. We trust that the companions will heed this call to help in this great undertaking.

Cordially and Fraternally,
R. Ex. Comp. Desmond Washer
Chairman - Medical Research Fund

Modified on 09/09/2007