Over recent years the District of Cyprus has donated a considerable amount of money to worthy causes. This in the main is due to the support given by the Lodges and Chapters within the District. What is set out below attempts to highlight the main activities and donations, on how we have assisted Charities and good causes over the past twenty years. Lodges and Chapters have always responded well to the call for donations towards a particular need, with Paphos General and Makarios Hospitals being good examples.

It must be noted that the above facts and figures have been taken from the District Communication Treasurers reports and do not include the many donations made by the Lodges to their own needs and charitable causes which of course will be recorded in their Lodge minutes and financial accounts.

2001- Millennium Charitable Project

The Board of Benevolence requested that Lodges support the purchase of a vehicle adapted to accommodate physically handicapped children and their carers. The Theotokos Foundation were to be the recipients of the vehicle at an estimated cost of CYP12000 to CYP17000. The appeal to Lodges was very successful and CYP17000 was collected. The vehicles final cost was CYP15106, thus providing a surplus to the Benevolence account. There was also a donation of CYP2574 to the Pancyprian Antianaemic Society based in Limassol and also CYP6184.80 converted to dollars for the New York terrorist attack

2002/3

The Lodges were asked to assist in the purchasing of kidney dialysis equipment that would be placed in Larnaca General Hospital. The estimated cost CYP10000 to CYP12000, when complete and installed the total cost was CYP14000. The installation took place in two stages, the first on 6th November 2003 and the second on the 9th February 2004

2004

The first year of the District Band concert took place on the 5th of June and provided some regular income, in the region of CYP9000 to CYP10000. The District with the assistance of the Lodges planned their most ambitious project which was to raise CYP36000 to have an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) placed alongside the surgical ward in Paphos General Hospital. This project was designed to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the District. Monies were raised at a number of varied functions, Charity Ball, Medieval Banquet, Fish and Chip Supper and of course the Band Concert. By the end of 2004 the amount raised for the 2005 Silver jubilee project was CYP24016

2005

The Paphos General Hospital received the ICU accommodation donated by the District at the cost of CYP36000. There was also a donation of CYP16890 to assist with the Tsunami Disaster that happened that year016

2006

Following the tremendous efforts of the two previous years a total of €9700 was donated by the District to three local charities, Doctors of the World €3500, Children with Heart Disease CYP5000 and Cyprus Autistic Children €7700

2007/8

The Board of Benevolence invited Lodges to submit proposals for assistance to local charitable organisations, It was requested that some costing should accompany these proposal. In all the Board received nine suggestions of which three were adopted, in total €13648 was donated for essential hospital equipment. Children In Need received €16342, Greek Fire Victims €10063, Paphos Childrens Charity €4025, Friends Hospice €1516 and the Masonic Samaritans Fund.

2009

Makarios Hospital received a total of €31050 for a children’s ICU and the Friends Hospice in Paphos received €10000. In September the District donated €5649 to the Masonic Samaritans Fund. With other minor donations the total for the year came to €48257.

2010

Donations were provided to the Samaritans Fund in the sum of €6005 and Larnaka Kidney Association received €2950

2011

A sum of €12000 was provided for the Makarios Hospital for equipment in the Neo Natal Unit ,five other charities were supported with grants of, Cyprus Association of Cancer Patients €8220, Nicosia Hospice €5000 , Alzheimer’s Assoc of Paphos €5000, Anti Cancer Society of Cyprus €5000 and Riding for the disabled €1000

2012

Donations were distributed to local charities as follows; to Ayios Stephanos Foundation €3000, to Open Arms TPMH (The Princess Mary’s Hospital) Support Group, Akrotiri €6000, W.Bro. Trevor Lace presented a cheque for €6,000 to the Chairman of the “Cancer Patients Support Group, Paphos” and W.Bro. Brian Brown, President of the District Board of Benevolence, presented a cheque for €1000 to the Riding for the Disabled Association.

2013

During this year local charities were supported as follows Infant Welfare Limassol €4000, Paphos Municipality €5000, Theotokos Institute €2000 and the Masonic Samaritans Fund received €10000

2014/15

Local charities were supported as follows: Limassol Infant Welfare €2000, Cancer Patient Support Group €2000, Solidarity Paphos €1000, Volunteer Doctors €2780, Kidney Association €1000 and RAF Wings Appeal €1000

2016/17

The year of 2016 unfortunately saw the last Band Concert which over the years had always provided around €10000 to the District Benevolence Account. During the period 2016/17 donations were made to local charities Cancer Patients Support €1750, Infant Welfare Limassol €500, St. Michaels Hospice €1750, RAFA Paphos €500 and Riding for the Disabled €1000

2018

A donation of €10000 was made to the Masonic Charitable Foundation. Support from Lodges and Chapters enabled a donation of €15000 to the Greek Fire Tragedy. our District Grand Master can be seen presenting a cheque for €15,000 to MW Bro Constantinos Politis (read full post here)

2019

This year saw donations to Friends Hospice Paphos 1000, St. Michaels Hospice Paphos €1000 and Arodafnousa Hospice Nicosia €1000

2020

The whole of the District got behind providing a Gas Blood Analyser for use in the fight against the Corona virus €25000 was donated by the District to purchase the machine.