Helping the Sick & the Poor

Grand Priory of Canada > Priory of Caledonia > Vancouver Commandery

2022

In 2021 the Commandery distributed a total of C$301,383 to 21 different charities and a further roughly $375,000 in 2022.

This included major grants to Pallium Foundation of Canada (developing the Canadian Atlas of Palliative Care, to identify areas of strength, excellence and weakness). In addition, a significant number of medium size grants were made. For example, grants went to British Columbia Bereavement Helpline (extend existing operating hours), BC Hospice Palliative Care Association (help fund a Grief, Bereavement and Mental health Summit), Comox Valley Hospice Society (develop two new mobile apps to augment bereavement services) and BC Pain Society (fund the bi-weekly, two-hour online Pain Support and Wellness Group sessions).

Additionally small grants went to numerous charities, including The Bloom Group (support the Indigenous Peer Support Group, providing Hospice care to local

indigenous people), Canuck Place Children’s Hospice (to support an enhanced community care program) and Cowichan Valley Hospice Society (to provide toys, books and educational materials to the Sovereign Order of St. John Children’s Play Area).

This can only be a brief summary of all the work done. For greater detail please refer to the Vancouver Almoner Committee Annual Report for 2021 (available online)

2020/21

 

SMALL GRANTS (up to CAD$10,000)

Bloom Group 

Bereavement Counselling Program

The Bereavement Counselling Program provides free, accessible and ongoing bereavement counselling to families in Vancouver who have lost a loved one. Families and individuals who have lost a loved one at Cottage Hospice and May’s Place will be given priority while the service will also be accessible by the community. This new, unique program, supported by SOSJ, builds on grief counselling currently offered while the loved one is in hospice, making it possible for the first time to extend much-needed care and support to families continuing to struggle with their grief and loss.

Approved Funding       $3,000

Canuck Place 

Enhanced Community Care Program

Canuck Place’s Enhanced Community Care (EEC) Program addresses the needs for complex medical in-home clients in Vancouver and Abbotsford. ECC provides community based pediatric palliative care to children and families across the province of BC. This program works with and improves upon existing regional health services by bringing specialized medical care to children with complex, life-limiting illnesses via in-home care, telephone & video conferencing, and our 24-hour nursing line. This program is open to families in need, anywhere in the province, all at no cost.

Approved Funding       $7,500

Fort Nelson Hospice Society

Hospice Centre

Northern Rockies Municipality is a large area of remote, isolated communities in North Eastern British Columbia. It suffers a chronic shortage of services and Hospice is able to assist many people who would otherwise have no support for grief and caregivers. Fort Nelson Hospice Society is expanding its programs and providing groups for caregivers, adult grief support groups, teen grief support groups, one-on- one counselling sessions, and social engagements, including barbecues and luncheons.

Approved Funding       $3,750

Fraser Valley Federation of Hospices

Federation of Hospices—Fraser Region

The creation of a Fraser Valley Federation of Hospices is to provide a more integrated and coordinated approach to hospice palliative care (HPC) in the Fraser Valley area covering twelve hospices. The project will include the establishment of an Alliance, building a well branded campaign, “We walk with you”, and the exploration of models of successful collaboration.

Approved Funding       $7,500

Hospice Society of the North Kootenay Lake

Community Outreach and Grief Support

The Hospice Society of North Kootenay Lake is a small rural hospice society serving a community of about 2500 residents with a small yet dedicated team including volunteers. The Community Outreach and Grief Support program is designed to meet the needs of community members. These needs have been identified through research, readings, partnerships and connections with health authorities, other hospices and organizations such as BCHPCA, CHPCA and other stakeholders such as SOSJ and other funders in the area of Hospice Palliative Care.

Approved Funding       $3,000

Kalein Hospice Centre Society

Nav-Care

Nav-CARE, a rural, community-based program, is connecting clients living with serious illness to community services and health resources and improving their quality of life. This program allows older adults to remain in the comfort of their homes, while maintaining their societal connections. Individuals are visited regularly by specially trained volunteers, who advocate, facilitate community connections, coordinate access to services and resources, and promote active engagement within the community.

Approved Funding       $7,000

Mission Hospice 

Child and Youth Grief and Bereavement Groups

The child and youth grief groups in the Mission community includes the Circle of Friends, for children ages 6 to 12 years old and takes place in the Mission hospice after school. Additionally, youth support groups, for ages 12 to 15 years take place during school hours in the counselling room at each middle school one day a week. The teen support group, for ages 17 to 19 is held in the local high school and one-to- one. 25 children and youths are able to attend camp at Zajac Ranch each year.

Approved Funding       $2,000

Pacific Rim Hospice

Child/Youth Grief Program in Ahousaht (aahuus ath)

The Pacific Rim Hospice Society (PRHS) is continuing to build on its child and youth grief program in Ahousaht, BC. Located 45 minutes by boat, north of Tofino, Ahousaht is a mighty First Nation’s community with approximately 1100 people. Children, youth and their families face death, often with traumatic circumstances (boat accidents, suicide etc.), and grief permeates the community. Pacific Rim Hospice is hiring a registered clinical counsellor to provide grief and loss counselling in group settings; grief and loss education to elementary and secondary school aged young people; and create a new peer support program— giving youth tools to support one another.

Approved Funding       $7,500

Peace Arch Hospice

Dying to Learn More

Peace Arch Society’s ‘Dying to Learn More’ series is a free educational program that is offered three times per year, and examples of topics include: Advance Care Planning, the Grieving Process, Palliative Care, Care for the Caregiver, and more. Sessions include community members, hospice society staff, and/or volunteers as speakers, and attendees receive food and refreshments, as well as valuable resources to take home with them.

Approved Funding       $5,000

People for a Healthy Community on Gabriola Island Society

Building a Compassionate Community

Gabriola Island Society is a new member of the Vancouver Island Hospice Federation and establishing its home hospice program. The purpose of the program is to raise awareness of home hospice in the context of a compassionate community, holding public events, training existing volunteers, doing friendly visits, and supporting families and volunteers.

Approved Funding       $5,000

Victoria Hospice

Bereavement Assessment Tool Development

Victoria Hospice is developing a tool that provides a short method to assess the intensities of bereavement in a multicultural community. The development includes a complete literature review, meetings with grief counselors to determine their exact needs, and creating a prototype of the bereavement assessment tool for testing. This tool will fill the tremendous need for bereavement support for family and caregivers, extending before and after the death of palliative care patients.

Approved Funding       $10,000

Trail Hospice Society and Castlegar Hospice

Nav-Care Training—Trail and Castlegar

SOSJ is supporting Trail and Castlegar Hospices to hold a two-day Nav-CARE training in the Genelle Community Center. Both Hospices were participants in the initial Nav- CARE research project in 2012-2014 with UBC Okanagan and Dr. Barb Pesut.

The Nav-Care program addresses the issues of living with a chronic life-limiting illness by training experienced hospice volunteers to be navigators. These navigators visit clients in their homes to help them navigate the complex health care system and find ways to keep them socially integrated in their community.

Approved Funding       $1,000

Victoria Hospice

Compassionate Connections: Enhanced Support for Palliative Caregivers

This specialized volunteer training program will allow volunteers from Victoria Hospice’s three covered communities to support caregivers who wish to care for their loved one at home. Not only will this support healthy aging, both for the person with the serious illness and the person caring for them, it will help to reduce strain on our medical system from hospitalization, exhaustion, and patients having to spend their final days in unfamiliar or new environments.

Approved Funding       $10,000

British Columbia Bereavement Helpline

Grief Support Helpline, Online Grief Education and Training

The development of the Online Grief Education and Training program will bring more education and training to British Columbians, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. BCBH has traditionally provided grief education and training in-person. Human resources, geography and budgetary limits prevent the organization from providing education and training services more than a few times a year and only within a limited geographic reach. Support of this online program will greatly enhance bereavement services to all British Columbians.

Approved Funding       $7,500

Desert Valley Hospice Society

Facilitator Training for Grief Support Groups

Desert Valley Hospice has provided training for the development of a Group Grief Support Program. This new program will help alleviate social isolation and COVID-19 and provide clients with a means to stay connected as they navigate the ritual of mourning and alleviate risks of serious mental health issues.

Approved Funding       $2,500

Oceanside Hospice Society

Staffing-On-Call Supervisor

The project has provided staffing of an on-call-counsellor for Oceanside Hospice Society. Demand for this program has increased due to the isolation and anxiety caused by the COVID-19 epidemic. The Oceanside community has a very high percentage of seniors who make up the majority of its clientele and the addition of a virtual on-call-counsellor is expected to reduce the uncertainty experienced by clients regarding their safety and lack of face-to-face sessions with loved ones. Client sessions with the on-call-counsellor will be conducted via Zoom.

Approved Funding       $5,000

Room 217 Foundation

Music Collections 3 & 4

The introduction of a sustainable music care program, delivered by Room 217 Foundation to St. John Hospice at UBC. Music (live and/or recorded) in hospice/palliative care settings, has been shown to impact health care in many ways. A variety of studies have been conducted to examine the effects of music in palliative care, including pain and symptom management support, emotional processing, building awareness of loss, assistance with life review, and relationship completion. Room 217 collection is a resource that can be delivered by non- musicians, e.g., palliative care by all care partners including patients, family members, staff members and volunteers.

Approved Funding       $5,000

Flatten the Curve Masks

COVID-19 Response—Flatten the Curve (FTC) Handmade Masks

The volunteer group, Flatten the Curve Handmade Masks, is dedicated to producing cloth masks to increase the availability to at-risk individuals, newcomers to Canada (refugees), medical clinics, hospices, women’s shelters, mental health housing, and home support agencies in Vancouver.

Approved Funding       $5,500

L’Arche Greater Vancouver

Accessibility for Adults with Developmental Disabilities at L’Arche

The redevelopment of L’Arche’s main building has created the need to find alternate housing for the people who have been living in the 3 homes housed there. The project is the renovation of a new house, which L’Arche purchased to relocate the people from the third home. This new house, once made fully accessible and safe, will allow L’Arche to provide care and support for five individuals with developmental disabilities (65 – 84 years) including: daily living support, spiritual support, companionship, aging support, and palliative care, when the need arises. SOSJ is supporting the creation of a ramp.

Approved Funding       $7,500

Life and Death Matters and HPCO

Life and Death Matters and Hospice Palliative Care Ontario are developing an innovative, competency based Online Palliative Care Certificate Program for Personal Support Workers with a focus on palliative care. The course includes five introductory core modules, which can be taken independently, and an additional ten modules to achieve a full course package. Completion of the entire 15 modules in the course will provide the learner with a National Palliative Care Certificate for Personal Support Workers.

Approved Funding       $7,500

Burnaby Hospice Society

Registered Clinical Counsellor & Bereavement Coordinator

Burnaby Hospice Society is building a virtual grief lending library to assist those grieving during the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds will go towards purchasing eBooks as well as a subscription to Overdrive, which mimics a local library. Anyone needing the resources on grief will be able to view the titles and borrow the eBooks for a certain time period. All resource services are offered free of charge to residents of all ages living in the Burnaby and surrounding areas.

Approved Funding       $2,000

Pain BC

Development of Pain BC’s Pain & Wellness Fundamentals: An Online Self- Management Education Program for People with Chronic Pain

Pain BC is developing an innovative educational program that will support the 1 in 5 people living with pain to develop skills to better manage their chronic pain. This online program focuses on improving the quality of life of adults living with pain, including pain from other chronic and life-limiting conditions, at all stages of life. The program is accessible as a self-referred, stand-alone resource for anyone with pain.  It will also be used as a prerequisite to/in concert with any of the pain programs offered by health authorities within BC, be utilized by primary care providers, and can be integrated into diverse health care contexts.

Approved Funding       $7,500

MEDIUM GRANTS (CAD$10,000 to 100,000)

Pacifica Treatment Centre

Integrated Trauma Resiliency and Recovery Pilot Study for Women and Men in Recovery from Substance Dependency.

Pacifica conducted a pilot study for women and men in recovery with an integrated trauma resiliency component. As a non-profit community-based organization, Pacific provides In-residence rehabilitative treatment of substance dependency (addiction) within a 35-bed, home-like facility. The intensive 12-week treatment program is trauma and violence informed and incorporates varied clinical methodologies and techniques to serve the often-complex needs of individuals and families experiencing the challenges associated with substance dependency, mental health and/or trauma.

Approved Funding        $20,000

The Dugout Drop in Society

Kitchen and other General Maintenance Upgrades

The Dugout, a supportive safe space where people in the DTES can come for breakfast, a snack, coffee, and enjoy company and conversation, has not had any kind of upgrade for decades. Approximately 600 individuals are served daily, 365 days per year at the Dugout. This project includes dedicated resources for maintenance upgrades with new flooring, repairs, painting to the interior and facade, cordoning off from the kitchen space when not in use, the purchase of a big screen TV, and blinds for the front windows.

Approved Funding       $26,304

Hospice Care Alliance British Columbia

Implementation of the 10-Step Forward for the Hospice Care Alliance British Columbia

Hospice Care Alliance British Columbia has a joint vision for hospice care in BC. Hospice organizations, regional health authorities, the Government of British Columbia, community organizations, and other key stakeholders are coming together to implement the 10-step path into action to overcome some of the challenges that our healthcare system is currently experiencing and improve the quality of life for all British Columbians living with serious illnesses and their caregivers. The success of the important work planned by the Alliance is expected to have ground-breaking results in HPC across BC and beyond.

Approved Funding       $20,000

100 Mile House Hospice

Acute Care Palliative Hospice Unit

100 Mile House Hospice is improving care for palliative individuals who are in acute care because they have medical care needs that are critical or more complex than can be managed in the Hospice Suite or at home. The old maternity wing in the 100 Mile District General Hospital is being converted into an acute care palliative hospice appropriate space. People facing the end of life in acute care can now do so in a less clinical and more home-like environment. The space is thoughtfully designed with attention to comfort and dignity to help lessen stress and loneliness and make the unbearable as graceful as possible.

Approved Funding       $33,900

Camp Kerry Society 

Kaleidoscope 2020: A Virtual Grief Convention for Families and Professionals

This four-day event (September 24-27, 2020) was available to grieving families, frontline health care workers, grief and loss professionals and volunteers across Canada. The caliber of speakers from across North America was exceptional and exciting. Keynote speakers (Dr. Lorraine Hedtke, Dr. Patch Adams, and Ann Douglas) are internationally renowned for their accomplishments and expertise in the fields of therapy, medicine, and parent education. Alannah Donahue spoke on behalf of the commandery

Approved Funding       $50,000 (2020)

LARGE GRANTS (CAD$100,000 and over)

Canadian Atlas of Palliative Care – British Columbia Edition

The Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem (SOSJ), Vancouver Commandery and Pallium Canada are pleased to announce a new funding partnership to develop the British Columbia edition of the Canadian Atlas of Palliative Care – a first of its kind for the province.

In collaboration with the University of British Columbia, the Canadian Atlas of Palliative Care – BC Edition will implement a systematic and coordinated method of assessing the status of palliative care across the province. The Atlas will  map out existing strengths, areas of excellence, and gaps across all regions within the province with respect to palliative care. This research will then be translated into powerful and visual user-friendly tools to foster improvements in the timeliness, access to, and availability of palliative care in BC.

The use of palliative care Atlases, as mapping approaches of service availability and systems performance, has proven very useful around the world. They have acted as catalysts for change and have helped funders, policymakers, the media, health care analysts, health care planners, educators and the community improve their understanding of palliative care systems and form the foundation for ongoing efforts to ultimately provide timelier, more effective, and compassionate palliative care.

2019

• Camp Kerry: Camp Kerry provides counseling, education, and support services for BC children, youth, and families coping with serious illness; its vision is of a society where no child, adult, or family ever has to walk through grief alone. As well as its year-round programming, Camp Kerry delivers the BC Family Bereavement Retreat program, a four-day retreat for up to 35 families, supported by 60 volunteers, to focus on the grieving process in a safe place. SOSJ’s funding will allow Camp Kerry to secure the use of a long-term site for the delivery of the BC Family Bereavement Retreat program and support the enhancement of its current Youth Bereavement program. The grants were $50,000 for the Family Bereavement Program and $25,000 for the Youth Bereavement Program.

• BCHPCA Small Grants: During 2019 the Commandery awarded a total of $56,000 to various small grant projects for BCHPCA.

• Provincial Hospice Working Group: SOSJ is one of five (5) founding members of the Provincial Hospice Working Group (PHWG). The goals of the working group are to better coordinate resources and develop an integrated, strategic approach to hospice palliative care (HPC) across BC in consultation with key stakeholders. Since its inception it has conducted a survey of hospices, with a 75% response rate, and on November 13, 2019 the Group facilitated a round-table discussion with 38 key stakeholders from across the province—SOSJ provided $10,000 towards this event.

 

• Dugout: The Dugout Drop-in Centre and ‘community living room’ is a supportive safe space where people in the DTES can come for breakfast, a snack, coffee, and enjoy company and conversation. Approximately 600 individuals are served daily, 365 days per year. The grant of $11,500 supports the robust food program and daily AA sessions.

• 100 Mile House Hospice: As part of the Small Grants program this Hospice was awarded $5,000 to support development of grief and bereavement programs.

• Hospice Society of Columbia Valley: As part of the small grants program, they were awarded $4,000 to support advanced care planning sessions in the community.

• St. John Hospice Standby Generator:
• The Vancouver St. John Hospice was completed about 7 years ago with the installation of a standby generator installation deferred based on the low risk of power interruption due to underground services. This proved to be an erroneous assumption that did not appreciate frequent new construction activity impacting the power grid. Recognizing the impact on patient care these interruptions were having, the Vancouver Commandery commissioned an electrical engineering firm to design and prepare tender specifications for the installation of the standby generator.

• The initial total project cost estimate was $ 220,000 and as a result of a vigorous cost engineering and bidding process we were able to deliver the completed installation for $ 175,000. Our design team was also able to aesthetically treat the exterior of the generator so as to minimize the visual impact on the high-quality landscaping and exterior aesthetics.

• Mission accomplished and patient care assured.

       

 

2018

• Cowichan Hospice Project:  Cowichan Hospice House is building a stand-alone 10-bed hospice in Duncan BC to support local communities.  SOSJ Vancouver and Victoria Commanderies have partnered with the society to support the Children’s Room. Vancouver Commandery provided $80,000 to this project.

• BCHPCA 2019 Education: In previous years British Columbia Hospice and Palliative Care Association held an annual two-day education conference in Vancouver.  In 2019 it adjusted its model to host relevant workshops in all four regions of BC in collaboration with the BC Centre for Palliative Care. The Commandery grant of $25,000 supported the development of conference and regional workshops.

 

2017/2018

• Purdy Pavilion Residential Care Project: Provided four renovated hospice rooms, one for each floor – it has now been completed.  Each room is warm and welcoming for patients who are near end-of -life and their families. They no longer have an institutional feel but a home like ambience with complimentary wall colour, window covering, floor covering, lighting and comfortable furniture for family staying over (hide-a-bed).  Each room has appropriate tasteful signage indicating SOSJ sponsorship. Commander Anne Rowland brought all her talents to bear on this project. There will be a formal dedication ceremony later in the year. We hope to shortly have six Nurse Educators identified who will be funded to take the ‘Intensive Medical Course in Palliative Care’ offered by Victoria Hospice
• Cottage Hospice Painting Project: The Cottage Hospice is a 10 bed hospice located in a heritage building on Vancouver’s eastside, operated by the Bloom Group. The SOSJ funded a $9000 grant to fund the painting of 10 patient rooms and bathrooms.
• ‘Because We Care’ Outpatient Clinic: This clinic will be attached to The North Shore Hospice but with separate entrance. SOSJ is partnering with the North Shore Palliative Care Program in providing a $150,000 pledge spread over two years to support this new Outpatient Clinic. It will manage pain and other symptoms for patients with life threatening illness to avoid the delays of treatment in the Emergency and Chemotherapy units and unnecessary hospital admissions. This clinic is very innovative, the first of its kind in BC and possibly Canada. With our pledge SOSJ is sponsoring the reception area where our support will be acknowledged with appropriate signage.
• Environmental Scan of BC Hospices and Hospice Societies: Vice Almoner Dame Susan Scott Gabe with help from Lorraine Gerrard, BCHPCA Executive Director has completed a comprehensive survey of all the existing hospices, palliative care programs, hospice societies in BC. Data collected includes: demographics, areas served, cultures served, number of beds, active volunteers, local training programs, annual number of patients served etc. This information will be invaluable for the SOSJ in planning our allocation of charitable resources and expertise going forward.
• The Downtown Eastside Hospice: The SOSJ is hoping to partner with Vancouver Coastal Health in building a new hospice in the Downtown East Side serving Vancouver’s most marginalized citizens. The new hospice will be a 10,000 square foot facility occupying the fourth floor of a new building in the heart of the DTES. The first three floors will provide comprehensive medical, social welfare and addiction services provided by Vancouver Coastal Health. The floors above the hospice will be to provide social housing. The land is being donated by VCH and the developer is BC housing. To create the hospice, SOSJ will  pledge up to $1.5 Million over four years. This project closely aligns with our mandate to serve the Lord’s sick and poor.
• Proposal for a St John Endowed Chair in Palliative Care at UBC: BC has a number of excellent Hospices including our own at UBC. Bill C277, a national policy mandating palliative care as a right for all Canadians is before the federal government. There remains one missing initiative to ensure that quality palliative care is available throughout BC and Canada. The missing piece is the updating and lifelong continuing education of all healthcare practitioners, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical students and, in the era of medical assistance in dying, lawyers, professional colleges and others. To achieve a widespread knowledge and ongoing update on advances in palliative care, a powerful educational initiative by a strong educational institution is needed now and into the future. This initiative requires an eminent, internationally recognized advocate who can effectively communicate with the public, with his/her academic peers, a professional college, government and the media to ensure a new initiative and ongoing cooperation in the provision of palliative care to all citizens of BC and Canada.  A strong advocate as the first St John endowed Chair in Palliative Care at UBC would make UBC a Centre of Excellence in Palliative Care.
• Prince George Hospice: Chevalier Howie Charters has been in preliminary discussions with the Prince George Hospice Society. They have asked for our help. They are early in their planning process.
• Terrace Hospice Society: Ongoing advice is being given to this Hospice Society by our Vice-Almoner, Ross Sharp. There may be an opportunity to develop models of palliative care in small remote First Nations Communities that provide needed medical support but are sensitive to the local culture. We had a meeting with one of the executive members in Vancouver early this year to discuss ways we may be able to help.
• BC Hospice and Palliative Care Association: The BCHPA is focused on the importance of advance care planning and the advocating for equitable access to responsive quality care for end-of-life patients and grieving loved ones.  Its membership consists of individuals and organizations that deliver hospice/palliative care and bereavement services and programs across BC.  Their direct services include assistance to patients ‘navigating’ the health care system, education, promoting volunteer participation, supporting hospice societies , their staff and board members, advocating with government and collaborating on leading research in the field. They now develop and host the BCHPCA Annual Conference in Palliative Care. The costs of attendance, including travel and accommodation, can be significant for their members outside the lower mainland. These are the organizations whose members need the education and networking the most. The SOSJ has provided $25,000 as the lead sponsor for the 2018 BCHPCA Annual Conference. This sponsorship includes exhibit opportunities, guest registrations, and awards luncheon attendance.

2015

• Christchurch Cathedral: Support of the necessary renovations of this cathedral and the improvement of its kitchens, providing about 36,000 meals annually for the homeless and disadvantaged of the downtown of Vancouver. $50,000.
• BC Hospice and Palliative Care Association: To facilitate the formation of the BC end of life coalition formed by the University of BC Palliative care division, the BC Center for Palliative Care, (both headquartered in the St John Hospice UBC), and the BC Hospice and Palliative Care Association. This will strengthen ties between academic medicine, the Government initiative in the Provincial end of life care action plan and private hospice and palliative care facilities. $5,000.
• BC Hospice and Palliative Care Association: To allow professional rewriting and editing of an Advance Care Planning training manual, and allow its distribution throughout BC. This is intended to ensure a wider education and involvement in this important personal planning activity critical to improved palliative care and the sustainability of the Health System in BC. $25,000.
• Pacific Rim Hospice Society: Remote First Nations communities on the West Coast of Vancouver Island experience unusually high traumatic deaths and suicide rates. Culturally sensitive counselling and other support will be provided in one community Ahousat, and started in another remote community: $5,000.
• Camp Kerry: Children who recently suffered bereavement benefit greatly from the friendship and support of peers, particularly participating in group activities. Camp Kerry will develop a community choir for children and parents. Science indicates this is a very powerful healing modality in children. $5,000.
• Comox Valley Hospice Society: The early evening or “settling time” in hospices can be difficult. Music therapy and healing touch can be very effective in allowing relaxation and providing comfort at this time. Enhancement of an already successful program will be provided. $5,000.
• Mission Hospice: Children 6-12 who have suffered bereavement will be sent to Camp Zajac for a week. This riding camp encourages friendship, reduces isolation and is known to improve recovery and ultimately success in future endeavours at home and school. $5,000.
• North Okanagan Hospice Society: A well-known national expert will facilitate a series of community learning programs “Living Well / Dying Well.” Evaluation of the effects of the events will be used to plan future such events. $5,000.
• Various Donations: There are other smaller disbursements each being between $500 and $2,000 in most of the years.
• In 2015 two projects in which the Commandery has a strong interest received a total of $2.53 million. The advocacy contributing to these large donations, to the Abbotsford Hospice Society and the BC Hospice and Palliative Care Association, was provided by members of the Vancouver Commandery. Further advocacy is expected to bear additional fruit later in 2015. No Sovereign Order funds were spent on this activity.

2014

• St. John Hospice: Ongoing funding of the 2012 capital project completed. Members of the Commandery managed the recovery from burst pipes. Funding was completed and the Hospice put in service. As noted in 2012, $5.3 million.
• Camp Kerry Society: Support of a successful youth bereavement program, of great benefit to many youth, from a variety of cultural backgrounds. This donation was particularly to assist in the employment of a year round counsellor to enhance the annual Camp. $5000.
• Fraser Canyon Hospice Society Camp Skylark: A three day camp for children aged 7-12 who had suffered bereavement sometimes in extreme circumstances. Supported also by the BC Ministry of children and families. $5,000.
• Mission Hospice Society: Training sessions for 40 volunteers for the Hospice. $4,000.
• Nanaimo Community Hospice Society: The incidence of suicide in partners of those who have committed suicide themselves is very high. (10%) The award allowed for a doubling in facilities and programs offered to surviving partners: $5,000.
• Oceanside Hospice Society: The donation is to help develop and implement a new concept, the client navigator, to assist those who have been involved in a recent bereavement.. It mirrors the patient navigators used in hospitals to allow navigation of the complexities of medical care. $5,000.
• Castlegar Hospice Society: The donation supports a new concept of a drop in center to provide support for those recently bereaved. This award allows the use of a physical space and the development of a bereavement “kit” to assist in carrying out the numerous tasks which those who have been bereaved need to deal with. $5,000.

 

2013

• St. John Hospice: Ongoing capital funding of the 2012 project.
• Christ Church Cathedral: In support of the Centenary Celebrations of this iconic church providing pastoral support for the residents of Vancouver and services to the disadvantaged in the downtown area of Vancouver. $5,650.
• Camp Kerry Society: Innovative bereavement support for children youth and families. These are science based peer group programs which can have a lifelong effect particularly on youth. Inspirational leaders and community support provide coping tools, positive memories and helpful connections to others with similar experiences. $5000.
• Comox Valley Hospice: Enhancement of their website, particularly related to advance care planning and development of tools to assist in volunteer training. Volunteers donate 23,000 hours of service annually. The donation will help provide accessible and cost effective technologies to allow increased knowledge of “having the talk” about mortality. $5,500.
• Comox Valley Hospice: The non-profit society has 160 volunteers and proposed to enhance retention and continuing interest for volunteers through development of online training and by augmentation of classroom training currently used. The donation was to address multiple different concepts and training options to assist volunteer training. $5,900.

 

2012

• 

  St. John Hospice, Vancouver

  St. John Hospice: Funding of the planning, architectural conceptions, construction, building equipment and furnishings was started. This project was conceived, planned, designed and built by the Commandery. The funds were raised largely from members with an assist through BC Housing. The 99 year lease of land negotiated with the University of British Columbia represented value in the region of $7 million while the cost of the building was $5.3 million. The website is at stjohnhospice.ca

• BC Hospice and Palliative Care Association: This important association started to experience increased support from volunteer board members, improved support of members and stabilisation of its staff. The ongoing support has helped to foster resurgence in its fortunes and capabilities. $27,500.

2011

• BC Hospice and Palliative Care Association: The BCHPCA represents many BC hospices and palliative care organisations. It is the main organisation for the Province with over 160 individual and group members. The Commandery has supported them for over 10 years. Strategies to improve the oversight capabilities and functionality of the BCHPCA were devised. $30,000.
• Chilliwack Hospice Society: This Hospice provides over 660 hours particularly for its relaxation program. The award allowed for an increase in the number of volunteers by 8 with a corresponding increase in hours of service within the hospice. $5000.
• Comox Valley Hospice Society: This hospice provides bereavement support for 170 new clients per year. The award allowed development of training materials, workshops and consultations to build the community bereavement support capacity. $5000.

Grand Priory of Canada > Priory of Cascadia > Okanagan Commandery

2022

The Commandery selected New Opportunities for Women (NOW) Canada as the primary major gift organization for 2021/22. The grant will provide a playground for children at a new housing development. NOW provides support for women and youth suffering from addiction, abuse or exploitation. C$20k was donated in 2021 and the remaining nearly C$24k is planned to be contributed by September 2022.

The Okanagan Commandery is a small, but mighty, group of incredibly dedicated SOSJ members who are passionate about helping the sick and poor in our communities.

2021

Commandery members have agreed to pursue a major gift to New Opportunities for Women (NOW) Canada. The project involves funding a children’s playground as part of the large NOW Canada housing development in Glenmore, Kelowna.  Commander Debra Martin has established a steering committee to move forward with this exciting project, which will continue into 2022.

2020

As with many commanderies, 2020 proved to be a difficult year to raise funds and carry on with the important work of supporting those who are ill in our communities.

In spite of this, the commandery was still active.  In 2020, the Commandery partnered with the Vancouver Commandery in the grants made to the Kalein Hospice Centre Society ($2000) and to the 100 Mile House Hospice Society ($1000).  The Commandery Foundation has been so grateful to partner with former Commander, Dame Lynda-May Vexo (O’Brien) to use matching funds and has fully committed for this generous partnership.

2019

The Commandery raised a total of $59,779 in 2019 and the money was used to complete the projects started in 2018. Firstly, at Joe Anna’s House, a home was built for families to stay while relatives are receiving treatment at Kelowna General Hospital where the Sovereign Order partnered with the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation to support its construction.  Secondly, the Commandery funded the remodel and rebuild of the kitchen at the Moog and Friends Hospice House. The fundraising for this included two very successful ‘Art & Wine’ fundraisers, which would not have been possible without the tireless dedication of the late Chevalier Harry McWatters.  His presence is missed by the commandery, but we feel so grateful he was able to steward these fundraisers and his dedication has left a tremendous legacy.

2018

Moog and Friends Hospice House: With the ever-growing need for hospice, and a shortage of hospice beds in purpose-built facilities, Moog and Friends anticipated their existing kitchen would require significant upgrading.  The Okanagan Commandery committed to raising $80,000 to have the current kitchen area closed off and renovated, with access being limited to staff and volunteers preparing meals both for in-patients and hospice patients who are being helped in their own homes.  A second kitchen area would be accessed by families and volunteers who wish to make themselves a beverage or a small snack. For more information on Moog and Friends, visit the website: http://www.pentictonhospice.com/

 

 

Grand Priory of Canada > Priory of Caledonia > Ontario Commandery

2022

While Covid-19 significantly restricted gatherings and fundraising, the Commandery still donated a total of C$15,000 to three charities, evenly split between Diane Morrison Hospice, a hospice for homeless people where the donation was used to purchase tablets to allow residents to communicate with family, Armagh House, a residence for women coming from an abuse “intake center” and Interval House a residential program for victims of family violence.

2021

Covid-19 had a significant impact on the activities undertaken by the Ontario Commandery in 2020. While community gatherings were severely restricted, we continued to provide financial support to front line community organizations serving the Lord‘s sick and poor.

In April we made a $5,000 donation to the Diane Morrison Hospice for homeless people in Ottawa. Due to COVID-19, residents of the hospice could not receive visitors. Our donation was used to acquire tablets that allowed residents to communicate with family members from a distance thus protecting the health and safety of the residents, their families, and the staff of the hospice.

As a commandery, we discussed other critical needs brought on by COVID-19 and its resulting social isolation and revolving lockdowns in our communities. While those in hospice care will continue to receive our help, we recognized there were others in our community that needed our support during the Covid-19 crises. With the rise of domestic violence during Covid, the SOSJ Ontario was pleased to donate $5000 to Armagh House. Armagh House is a facility where women can go to after leaving an abuse “intake center”. It presently has nine small individual condos. The maximum stay at this facility is 2 years. It’s the only facility of its kind in the entire Peel Region and has played an integral part of the success of the women able to reside there while rebuilding their and their children’s lives. In addition, we provided a $5000 grant to Interval House in Ottawa, a residential program for victims of family violence, to assist  them in improving their building security and providing day programs for resident women and children.

2019

• Ottawa Mission Hospital: The Commandery financial support is focused on a palliative care facility (Ottawa Mission Hospital) seeing to the needs of homeless persons in their last days…truly the Lord’s sick and poor.  The 4th Annual Fun Run scheduled for Saturday, October 3 2020 (delayed one week because of the scheduled Sovereign Council Meeting) but, obviously, contingent on the clearing of social distancing restrictions.  Nevertheless, planning is moving forward.  This has been the hallmark fundraiser for our small Commandery and is lead by Dame Melanie Rock.  In 2019 over CA$7,000 was raised through the run itself and the BBQ generously hosted by Daryl and Melanie Rock at their home.  A total of roughly $7,500 was raised and donated during 2019.

2015

• Provided $2500 to the Ontario Palliative and Hospice Care Association of Ontario to train volunteers in key areas of palliative and hospice care.

2016

• Provided $15,000 to the Diane Morrison Hospice, a partnership between the Ottawa Mission and Ottawa Inner City Health that provides hospice care to homeless men and women in Ottawa, to renovate their nursing station as they expand their hospice from 14 to 21 beds.
• Provided $15,000 to the Good Neighbours Club, in partnership with the Toronto Inner City Health Associates to support the Good Wishes project, an initiative intended to provide homeless individuals with critical support through their end of life in ways that respect their personal journeys.  Specific wishes include funding a family reconnection, a set of new clothes, etc.

2017

• Ottawa Hospice: A specific donation was a purchase of some equipment for a local Hospice for C$3,000.
• “Fall Colors Fun Run”: The Commandery organized a “Fall Colors Fun Run” for members and the general public to help raise funds for Hospice and Palliative care in Ottawa.
• “The Lost Treasure of Malta”: Dame Melanie Rock wrote a book called “The Lost Treasure of Malta”, with all the funds raised from sales going to the Commandery for charitable use.

Grand Priory of Canada > Priory of Cascadia > Victoria Commandery

2022

The Commandery has donated a total of C$79,750 since the last SCM. C$51,000 of that, spread over Christmas 2020 and 2021 went to The Victoria Christmas Gift Card program, providing food shopping vouchers for seniors dependent on food banks.

A small grant program, totaling nearly C$30k was spread amongst eight different charities. In summary these were Living Edge Community Church (new exhaust fan system for the food distribution center), Our Place (purchase a year’s supply of foot care products for poor and palliative care adults), 9-10 Club The Soup Kitchen (purchase a new commercial refrigerator), Victoria Rainbow Kitchen Society (purchase food to help serve 4,000 clients a month), Her Way Home (supplies for mothers suffering in poverty and substance abuse, and their babies), Broadmead Care Society (purchase new slings for movement and repositioning young adults with permanent disabilities), Victoria Youth Empowerment Society (provide essentials to about 115 youth suffering homelessness, addition or mental health challenges) and the University of Victoria School of Nursing – Palliative Care Outreach Program (provide comfort kits to inner city patients with advanced life limiting illnesses).     

  Victoria Commandery-Community Projects -2007 – 2021

 

 

 

Grand Priory of the United States and Central America > Priory of Northeastern United States > Cleveland Commandery

2022

Through 2021 the Cleveland Commandery donated a total of US$112,387 to eight different worthy charities. The majority of the money was donated to support COVID-19 services around the community. This was true for Greater Cleveland Hunger Network. East End Neighborhood House, St. Herman’s House, Project Hope Lake County and Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Additionally, donations were made to the Hitchcock Center for Women both for Covid support and providing holiday dinners to their clients and families. Finally, nearly $6k was donated to Marion Sterling Elementary School to provide gift totes for the children, the only gifts they received during the holidays. In addition, while it will not be finalized in time for this report, it is the Commanderies intent to donate a further US$65,000 before the end of 2022.

2021

Greater Cleveland Hunger Network…to support COVID-19 services they are providing to their clients and the related community.   $20,000

East End Neighborhood House…COVID-19 as above.   $15,000

Hitchcock Center for Women…COVID-19 and provided Holiday Dinner for clients and families.   $10,800

TOTAL DONATIONS: $45,800

2020

East End Neighborhood House…to support COVID-19 services they are providing to their clients and the related community.   $20,000

St. Herman’s House…COVID-19 as above.   $15,000

Project Hope Lake County…COVID-19 as above.   $10,000

Greater Cleveland Hunger Network…COVID-19 as above.   $10,000

Great Cleveland Food Bank…COVID-19 as above.   $5,000

Marion Sterling Elementary School…provided gift totes for the children at the school – the only gifts the children received during the Holidays.   $5,887

Hitchcock Center for Women…provided Holiday Dinner for clients.   $700

TOTAL DONATIONS: $66,587

2019

Connecting For Kids: Connecting for Kids requested funds to create 2,500 Sensory Awareness Kits to give to preschools in Solon and surrounding suburbs; to educate families about sensory awareness; to hold free Sensory Consults in May 2020; use flier provided with the kits to invite families to attend and be screened by pediatric occupational therapists from Cleveland Clinic Children’s. The Commandery provided the full $5,000 to fund this request.

St. Herman House: St. Herman’s helps people living in poverty, assisting in serving food and other basic needs. To enable individuals with physical disabilities and/or limited mobility to access services, St. Herman’s requested a grant for the purchase and installation of a new vertical platform lift. The Commandery gave a grant of $14,000 to meet this important need.

The Music Settlement: The Music Settlement provides music therapy to a wide range of individuals, from pre-school children to the elderly. In order to provide better access for clients with disabilities to the building on Magnolia Drive, they requested a grant of $10,000 to purchase and install a PAR16 parking ramp and automatic swing door. The Commandery met this request in full

Hitchcock Center for Women: Commandery Members served a catered holiday meal and joined in fellowship with women and their children who were in-patient residents. This was a donation cost of $1,674

Marion Sterling Elementary School: Commandery members served a catered holiday meal to students and families of the school and joined in craft-making activities with the students. The school’s students are from low-income families. This was a donation cost of $1,573

2011 through 2016

Marion Sterling Elementary School – During the renovation of this school’s library, the Cleveland Commandery provided $10,000 for the purchase of furniture which was more suitable to the needs of the students and provided $15,000 for the purchase of books (including digital books).  The school honored the donation by naming the library the “Sovereign Order of St. John Library.”  The Cleveland Commandery has continued its support of the school by gifting books to the students, providing Thanksgiving dinners to the students and their families, and providing each student with a gift card for a pair of boots.

2014 through 2016

Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital

In 2014, the Cleveland Commandery began communications with Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital regarding a project to combat childhood obesity, a community health epidemic.  With research identifying exercise as a key factor, physicians probed various ways to increase a child’s activity and ultimately recommended a project using Fitbits.   The intrigue of Fitbits lay not only with the children’s interest in wearing them, but also in the fact they allow for remote monitoring and more frequent feedback from the physician to the family.  SOSJ Cleveland funded $160,000 for the purchase of Fitbits to be used in a two-year study.  The study has prompted physicians to provide services of a more personalized nature in connection with their Healthy Kids Healthy Weight program.   As part of this program, SOSJ Cleveland also hosted a half-day “Fun Fit Fest” at which families received information about healthy food options, learned about healthy activities, and had fun while doing so.

For a full listing and description of the Cleveland Commandery’s many projects, please refer to the Cleveland Commandery Profile under “Who We Are – Commanderies.”

Marion Sterling Library Books and Christmas Dinner

 2017

The Hitchcock Center for Women: The Hitchcock Center for Women remains a leader in substance abuse treatment for women, carrying out the mission to “holistically” empower women to achieve and maintain productive, chemically-free, lives at home, at work and in the community.

Hitchcock Center is unique in that it is the only residential treatment center in the region to which a woman can bring her children (up to age 12) while receiving treatment.

The building has served as the home to thousands of women since 1992, it was suffering the effects of aging. The roof was in such poor condition that leaks have damaged many of the rooms, leaving them unusable at this point.  In that condition, the building cannot operate at full capacity and efficiently provide all the services women need to face their addiction and heal their families.

The Cleveland Commandery approved to award the Center with a check for $31,000 in September 2017, to repair the roof.

Providence House: Providence House is Ohio’s first and one of the nation’s longest operating crisis nurseries among the 70+ in operation in the US and Canada today.  They offer free, voluntary (non-custodial) emergency shelter to children newborn through twelve years old, actively living in crisis situations which place them at risk of abuse or neglect.

Providence House protects at-risk children and supports families through crisis, strengthening communities to end child abuse and neglect.  At Providence House, they have cared for nearly 8,000 families and children in crisis.

The Providence House services and campus have undergone significant growth and expansion in recent years to meet the growing needs of families in crisis who have young children.  The campus supports three distinct service areas in two buildings.

Providence House was in need of a surveillance camera to provide a secure and safe environment for its residents and workers.   The Cleveland Commandery approved a donation of $10,000 to the Providence House for this purpose in September 2017.

 

ZOE: Many women are fortunate to have the love and support structure to lead them to marriage, children, and a meaningful life. Others, however, are not as fortunate. They find themselves in a crisis pregnancy.

ZOE serves as a conduit, guiding women to a wider range of support organizations, providing them with a more attractive set of options and hopefully a more promising outlook on their situation. For example, there is counseling, housing assistance, medical assistance, prenatal care, adoption and other services available that are usually unknown to most women in crisis pregnancies.

The organization was seeking funds to purchase an ultrasound machine to help women understand where they are at in the pregnancy process.  The Cleveland Commandery granted this organization a donation $28,000 in September 2017.

 

Kids’ Book Bank: Studies show that being read to as a child and having books in the home are the two most important predictors of future academic success. Yet two-thirds of low-income families do not own a single children’s book.

Since 2013, children throughout Cleveland neighborhoods have enjoyed taking books from 60 Little Free Libraries.  Little Free Libraries are small, engaging neighborhood kiosks filled with books, encouraging neighbors to “Take a Book, Leave a Book”.  Today there are more than 50,000 in 80 countries around the globe including more than 85 in Greater Cleveland.

Several Cleveland Commandery members are personally involved with this organization that has the mission to foster literacy and a love of reading by providing free books to children in need.  The Cleveland Commandery approved a donation of $10,000 to the Center in September 2017.

Washington DC Commandery

2022

The Commandery made a donation of US$10,000 to provide wheelchairs to the Virginia Hospital Center. In addition, a further roughly US$1,000 was raised and forwarded to the Commandery of Budapest in support of the help for the Ukrainian refugees in Hungary.

2019

Second Story (previously Alternative House): Second Story in Virginia transforms the lives of children, youth and their families by providing safe havens and opportunities for them to grow and thrive. Our programs provide support at critical turning points in their lives. The specific services offered range from providing a safe house, meals and counseling for teenagers; housing, food, clothing and parenting life skills for young mothers; long-term housing and life skills training for homeless youth to general support to the community through after-school programs, food and clothing for those in need. In support of these programs the Commandery donated a total of $8,500 to Second Story.

Grand Priory of the United States and Central America > Priory of Southeastern United States > The Palm Beaches Commandery

2022

The Commandery of the Palm Beaches donated a total of US$64,580 during 2021. Following the earthquake in Haiti, multiple donations, totaling US$3k, were made to support agencies. Additionally, US$2.5k was given to the First Haitian Baptist Church Food Drive, to help feed the poorest in the community. The Belle Glade Building Fund received US$59k towards the new FHBC Youth and Children Development Center. Further, over US$2.2k was donated in memory of three Knights and Dames that passed away in 2021.

2021

The Commandery of The Palm Beaches 2021 Philanthropy Report

The Commandery of The Palm Beaches is pleased to report its Philanthropic donations for the year 2021.

During  2021 The Commandery of The Palm Beaches donated $58,454.52 to six not for profits serving the sick and poor.

After the earthquake struck Haiti the Commandery gave $1 ,000 to two organizations. St Gregory’s Episcopal Church, Dame Reverend Anita Thorstad’s Hatitan Children project and Dame Melissa Nash, Hope of Haiti, each received donation of $500 for their agencies.

The Commandery of The Palm Beaches sponsored The First Haitian Baptist Church Food Drive with a donation of $2,513.72, feed the poorest in our community.

The Belle Glade Building Fund received $58,815.80, to pay for the architect drawing for the new

FHBC Youth and Children Development Center. Construction should start the beginning of 2022.

The Commandery of The Palm Beaches remembered its Knight and Dames who passed away this year with $1,125 in donation to: St Vincents Ferrer Center in memory of Dame Marie Ryan $500.00, Royal Poinciana Chapel in memory of Chevalier John Thomas $125.00 and National Ovarian Cancer in memory of Commander Mary Howard $500.00.

Yours in St John,

Commander James Siemon, KGSJ

 

The Priory of the Southeastern United States is pleased to report its Philanthropic donations for the year 2021.  These donations are in addition to the philanthropic donations reported by the Commandery of the Palm Beaches.

Emphasis during the Pandemic was to assist those in need and the SE Priory donated $12,000 to four not for profits serving the poorest in our community.

• The food pantry of Holy Redeemer Episcopal Church in Lake Worth received $3000 and the Christ Child Society of Naples received $3000. The Emergency Fund of the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County and the House of Hope Pantry & Grow a Garden each received a donation of $3000.
• When the earthquake in Haiti struck two agencies that the SE Priory was associated with were given donations of $1000 each. Dame Reverend Anita Thorstad’s Haitian children’s project sponsored through St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church and Hope for Haiti sponsored by Dame Melissa Nash received donations for their agencies’ on the ground work in the areas most devasted by the 2021 Haiti Earthquake.
• The Belle Glade Building Fund received $1379.88 from the on-going efforts of Dame Pamela Martyna’s Face Book page that keeps the project in front of the eyes of her followers,

Lastly, the SE Priory remembered its Knights and Dames who passed away this year with $625 in donations to the churches of their choice.

The philanthropic donations from the SE Priory for 2021 totaled $16,004.88.

2020

• Now during the Covid-19 Pandemic we are faced with another situation.  Feeding the poor in Belle Glade.  Many of the children are left alone or with 1 grandparent with a house full of children.  The district has designated locations for the feed, however, they have no way to get there.  Our Commandery has started a food drive through the philanthropy committee with Chairs Dame Mimi Howard & Chevalier Walter Jones and have raised $2,900 so far.  We have taken the Church to Restaurant Depot and stocked them with enough food to feed 21 families for 2 weeks and will continue to help.  With the new vans they have been able to come to us instead of us having to drive the 100 some miles.  The parents are in the fields as it is now corn harvest another one of their major crops in Belle Glade.

 

2019

• The Members of the Commandery of the Palm Beaches have dedicated themselves to the First Haitian Baptist Church Youth and Development Center – Building Project.  So far they have raised a total of $445,914, with $245,115 raised in 2019. To rebuild the building that is about to fall down!  You can read about it on our website SOSJPB.org.  They have dedicated themselves to this unit and its needs.  This year the bus that the Pastor drives to pick up and deliver the children was on its last leg and overheated at 30mph.  Through 2 of our members they were able to secure two grants, a total of $45,346, that resulted in the purchase of two 15 passenger vans.

2012

• Church & Food Pantry Food Bags: The Commandery of Palm Beaches distributed 800 food bags to the area Churches and food pantries suggested by our members. $10,000.

 2013

• Christmas Gifts: The Commandery purchased Christmas gifts, food and other needs in the City of Belle Glade, an area of considerable need. $6000.

2014

• Individual help: The Commandery helped a family who were in dire need of a new roof, water heater and general need. The husband was bed-ridden and has since passed. They have an autistic son which prevents the mother from working. $3,400.
• Florida Outreach Centre for the Blind: The Commandery adopted the Florida Outreach Center for the Blind. The members help raise funds and provided the Christmas party with gifts and food. The Commandery also provided a computer and tablets for use in their office. $2,000.
•  Rotary Feed West Palm Beach: The Commandery participated in the local Rotary Feed West Palm Beach. $1,500.
• Malta Orphanage: Members of the Commandery provided the Malta orphanage run by the Ursulines with face cloths and sheets. A further donation was made to help them refurbish the orphanage. The donation was made with the Washington and Cleveland Commanderies also participating. € 800.

2015

• Eagle Wings Foundation: The Commandery assisted the Eagles Wing Foundation in providing post-disaster in Haiti relief. $1,000.
• Homeless Coalition: The Commandery helps them provide help and shelter for the homeless. $2,400.
• Matthew 25: This local prison ministry was received a support grant. $6,000. A further grant was made to paint a truck and provide signage. $2,850.
• On-going help for Belle Glade:Belle Glade, Florida is located in Palm Beach County, one of the richest counties in the State, while it is one of the poorest cities within the County. Our Commandery has adopted The First Haitian Baptist Church located in Belle Glade, Florida. Pastor Moralas St. Hilaire provides an After School Program for the local children to help them and keep them off the streets.The children are picked up from school and helped with school work, play time, music and are fed snacks and faith and then returned to their homes. The existing building for this project has reached the end of its life and is unfit to refurbish. The Commandery has undertaken a campaign to try and rebuild this building. To date we have collected $16,510. Our goal is to get 5,000 people to donate $200 to reach this goal.
• In Jacob’s Shoes Foundation: The mission of In Jacob’s Shoes is to provide new and gently used shoes, school supplies and athletic shoes and equipment to economically disadvantaged youth.  Scholarships are also awarded to children and teens for camp, athletic, education, travel, after school care and extra-curricular programs. Further, we obtained over 132 pairs of shoes for the children at First Haitian Baptist Church After-School Program. Then in August, we obtained another round of shoes and this time we delivered to school back packs filled with school supplies. Working hand in hand with them we have collected shoes and even had a “Cleaning Night” where members participated in the process of making the shoes look like new. This program requires more effort than cash. $1,000.
  

  

  

  

  
  
• Urban Youth Impact SMART Coding Component Project: This project teaches Computer Programming to train the children in the intercity a trade. We also sent school supplies to the Urban Your Impact that was accumulated during our annual BBQ. $4,500.
• Food and Clothing: Member volunteers picked up and delivered food and clothing on an ongoing basis from local food pantries, donations from individuals and churches to be given to the Academy for Nurses & Health Occupations, a not for profit school, whose students come from the Belle Glade & Pahokee area. Many of these people do not know where their next meal will come from on the weekends when most pantries are closed. The Commandery has also given clothing to One Love – One Community Foundation which provides clothes closets in Title 1 Schools in Palm Beach County.   At our Investiture we requested those participating in the Luncheon to bring an inexpensive rain poncho for the children in the Title 1 schools so that when it rains, they won’t get soaked. We filled a large bin!
• Coral Springs Museum of Art: A software package was donated by a member in the name of the Order to start an autistic program for painting. The program allows them to point at a paint can and then paint on the wall digitally, save it and never make a mess on the floor or wall. It will be a special exhibit. $5,000.
• Hygiene Bag Project: This year at the Investiture Weekend the Commandery did a “hands on project” where we prepared 100 hygiene bags for the homeless. Many members purchased product and also collected various items from all of their travels. These bags were assembled at our Friday Luncheon and all participated. Even the Grand Master! We also teamed up with St. Paul’s Lutheran Church who provides “Glad Sacks” filled with snacks for the children at the First Haitian Baptist Church. These were also assembled by our participants at the luncheon and 160 glad sacks were delivered to Belle Glade. A dollar amount cannot be given as it was a hands on project that comes from the heart!

2016

The Commandery’s main Project was our Food Drive

Food Drive – Chev. Bohlman stated the Commandery had a great turn out of members and volunteers at our Food Drive held on May 14^th at the Children’s Home Society.  We raised funds and with the Order’s match we were able to fill 1,000 bags for 15 Charities for $16,060.  We had many volunteers, potential aspirants and even the youth.  Next year we will begin earlier collecting funds and fill the bags bigger.  82% of the Membership Participated.  Thanks to Chev. Bohlman & Dame Landen for a great job.

Other Projects:

$5,000 – Feed Palm Beach County (Chev. Tony Lofaso) Donation and Helping Hands

$2,000 – Family Development (Ken Bowers) Ken has been inactive for a few years due to poor health.

He runs a summer camp and he needed help financially.

$7,500 – In Jacob’s Shoes – 30 members donated $5,775 and Commandery $1,725.

We teamed up with this worthy cause a few years ago.  They have provided new & gently used shoes to our many poor areas in Belle Glade, Pahokee, Riviera Beach.  The funds donated helped them provide backpacks filled with school supplies along with shoes for back to school.

$3,400 – Pahokee Retreat House – Fire Alarm System (donated by Kirkwood Foundation)

$100 – Children’s Home Society

$1203 – Florida Outreach for the Blind – This was our Christmas project where we provided money for

Them to purchase gifts for the young children and our members had a gathering where we

Brought Gift Cards for the teens.  Supplied food for their party also.

$1,000 – YWCA High Tea Sponsorship 4 Members gave to support the YWCA at the Tea.

$4,500 – Urban Youth Impact for a Coding Program Pilot.

Belle Glade – First Haitian Baptist Church Building.  Funds totaling approximate $25,000 in a restricted fund for the rebuilding of the area where the children go to do homework and play in a free after school program.  We continue to support this church with food and clothing.  Palm Beach County is the richest county in the State of Florida with 2 of the poorest cities Belle Glade & Pahokee with many gangs and drugs.  Pastor collects these children after school and gets them off the street.  Dame Pam Martyna has spear headed this committee which was under the Philanthropy Committee. Last quarter 2016 it was decided that if this was to go ahead more detail must be determined.  It was taken out of the Philanthropy Committee and Chev. Schoech & Williams have offered their expertise.  A feasibility study with questionnaire to be completed by the Pastor was presented and we are still awaiting results.  Dame Martyna was not able to be at the Annual Meeting and I don’t think much has moved forward.  One consideration out of the meeting that was held by this Committee was to investigate nearby existing buildings to renovate.

2017

$500 –   Feed Palm Beach County (Chev. Tony Lofaso) Donation and Helping Hands

(At this event, several members and future Aspirants participated in February)

$1000 – Florida Outreach for the Blind – This was our Christmas project where we provided money for

Them to purchase gifts for the young children and our members had a gathering where we

Brought Gift Cards for the teens.  Supplied food for their party also.

$1,000 – YWCA High Tea Sponsorship 4 Members gave to support the YWCA at the Tea.

Due to this being an Investiture year with 15 Aspirants, the Treasurer had limited the committee to $5,000 as robes and regalia had to be purchased.  The balance will be remaining for the Food Drive in 2018.

BELLE GLADE PROJECT:

The First Haitian Baptist Children Development Center.  Funds totaling approximate $40,690 in a restricted fund for the rebuilding of the Children Development Center where the children go to do homework and play in a free after school program.  We continue to support this church with food and clothing.  Palm Beach County is the richest county in the State of Florida with 2 of the poorest cities Belle Glade & Pahokee with many gangs and drugs.  Pastor collects these children after school and gets them off the street.  Dame Pam Martyna has spear headed this committee which was under the Philanthropy Committee. In 2017 it was discussed that we either have to meet with the Church and get a current plan that they have for the project.  Otherwise if action isn’t taken on their party, we were prepared to write to each person who donated to the fund and find out their wishes since the project seemed to reach a dead end.  It was taken out of the Philanthropy Committee and Chev. Schoech & Williams have offered their expertise.  A meeting was held with Assistant Pastor Morana St. Hilaire to discuss how the plans are progressing.  We met the Architects and listened to their plan of action.  One problem is how they are going to run the program once the building is torn down.  Apparently, the City will tear it down.  We were promised information by our Annual Meeting. Dame Martyna was not able to be at the Annual Meeting.

Hurricane Irma brought more destruction to the building along with the Pavilion that is used for an eating area for the Children.  The top blew off and the tables that were made of press board were soaked and warped. After the Investiture weekend, several of us took members of SOSJ from Vancouver to see the project and give us some guidance.  After that meeting and seeing the destruction, Dame Martyna and Chevalier Smith took it upon themselves to find a solution to mount tables purchased from Lowe’s and remove the legs, remove the damaged boards and mount them on the existing frames.  Wonderful solution.  Hurricane Irma could have been a bit nicer and blew the house down so insurance could be collected.  Oh Well!

Other Activities – HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE

We started the New Year with a New Year’s Eve Party at Dame Marshall with Fireworks on Flagler.  Ran a 50/50 where the first 2017 Charity Champion was born.  It was won by Dame Howard and awarded to the Celtic Festival in the Keys.

This clever idea was created by the Chair, Dame Nancy Marshall.  The idea was to allow members to support their favorite Charity having to complete an application created by the Philanthropy Committee and Hospitality Committee.  The member must work with their charity raising $2,017 and meet the criteria of the committees.  In the meantime, the Hospitality Committee worked on several fund raising ideas to raise the matching $2,017.  At almost every event an Auction was held raising funds along with items purchased such as bracelets, credit card holders & aprons for sale.

March 26, 2017 was the Annual Shalhoub BBQ – Open to all Members and Future Aspirants and friends that members feel should be considered.  Always a wonderful event hosted by Chevalier & Dame Shalhoub.  Great success!  We collected Easter Baskets along with a great auction to raise funds for the 2017 Charity Champions.

On June 24^th 25 Knights and Dames celebrated the Feast of St. John the Baptist with services held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (site of Investiture) and had a pot luck supper afterwards.  Of course we had a jewelry sale from pieces donated by members.  Great fun!

July 24^th brought our Board Meeting to In Jacob’s Shoes Wine & Cheese Shoe Cleaning Evening – Several members traveled to their headquarters and had a wonderful evening of fun cleaning the shoes.  Little wine helps!!  In Jacob’s Shoes was the second 2017 Charity Champion to meet the criteria and funds were raised by doing a Bakeless Cake Sale.  They rose along with Toni Mastrullo over $3,000.  The award was given that evening.

On September 24^th several members gather at the Colony for Lunch to Celebrate the Commander’s Birthday.  In lieu of gifts contributions were made to the 2017 Charity Champions.

Boutique was also available at the Meet & Greet at Investiture Weekend!

December 9, Dame Martyna and Chevalier Smith held a Merry Christmas Party at their home and fun was held by all.  And yes we had one last auction!

At December, 2017 we had enough funds to award 2 more Charities – Children’s Home Society and the Cancer Alliance of Help & Hope $2,017 each.  Awarded at the Annual Meeting.

Since the auctions and Sales of product was so wonderful we have enough funds to do approximate 3 more charities so notice was sent out and we are waiting the outcome from the Committee evaluating them.

At our February, 2018 meeting we will present the remaining funds of $5,336 to the following charities who completed the criteria:

Palm Beach Habilitation Center

Visiting Nurse Foundation of Florida

Florida Outreach Center for the Blind, Inc

This pilot project will be evaluated for continuance in 2018.  Congratulations to all charities awarded.

 

 

 

Grand Priory of the United States and Central America > Priory of Western United States > St. Joseph Commandery (San Jose, California)

Website: www.sosjwestusa.org

2022

The Commandery committed a total of US$260,000 to seven different charities during 2021/22. While this was less than the Commandery would normally raise in this period, the major concern was having to postpone the planned Garden Party fundraiser from September 2021 to April 2022, mostly due to concerns with Covid-19. However, the fundraiser achieved its goal and all commitments were funded. A successful golf tournament held in the summer of 2021 added to the funding capability.

Major grants went to seven charities, five new and two repeat organizations. Life Services Alternatives ($75k) and JW House ($25k) each received grants for major construction and remodeling projects, they had previously received grants for other projects.

Next Door Solutions, supporting domestic violence victims, received US$24k for home renovation. St. Louise Regional Hospital was awarded US$30k towards the cost of a reflective garden for patients with PTSD and mental health disorders. St. Patrick School got US$25k as part payment for a new HVAC system. Starting Arts, serving 125 schools mostly in disadvantaged areas with hands-on arts experiences, received US$40k to remodel their rehearsal studio into a Black Box Theater. Lastly Sunnyvale Community Services, working to prevent homelessness and hunger by supporting low-income families, received US$41k to equip thirteen client conference rooms with A/V equipment to better help their clients.

2021/22

Even with the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, this summer the St. Joseph Commandery selected seven charities that will receive grants of a total of $260,000 which we anticipate funding between now and summer 2022. When fully funded, St. Joseph will have donated well in excess of $4.2 million to local charities since its inception twenty two years ago. The selected charities are:

 

JW House is an independent, nonprofit hospitality house in Santa Clara that provides hope, hospitality and healing to caregivers and families while their loved ones receive treatment at hospitals in Silicon Valley. JW has requested $25,000 for renovation of the Day Use Room so that people can stay overnight.

 

Life Services Alternatives (LSA) provides affordable housing options for developmentally disabled adults in Santa Clara County. LSA’s mission is to provide exceptional community-based living experiences and services for people with special needs. LSA operates 14 licensed residential care homes in the County and has recently purchased the fifteenth home, which was in need of major renovation and refurbishment. The $75,000 grant from SOSJ will provide the majority of the cost of this refurbishment.

 

Next Door Solutions (NDS) is the only stand-alone, domestic violence agency in Santa Clara County, answering approximately 15,000 crisis calls and serving an average of 3,000 survivors of domestic violence annually. Their comprehensive, compassionate, bilingual services are available free of charge. Their services are provided at a 24/7 Emergency Shelter—a 2600 sq. ft., two-story, single-family home built in 1903 that consists of 7 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, living and dining room, kitchen, and office. The Shelter houses 19 female domestic violence survivors and their children at any one time with an average stay of 38 days. On average, 200 women and children stay at the Shelter each year. The SOSJ $24,000 grant will replace all the flooring at the shelter.

 

Located in Gilroy, since 1989, St. Louise Regional Hospital has been caring for the residents in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties by offering a wide range of high-quality inpatient and outpatient medical specialties. St. Louise has 93 beds, is a Designated Primary Stroke Center, and is the only acute care hospital in the area. The $30,000 grant will partially pay for a reflective garden, the total budget for the garden is $100,000.   The garden will be a restful place and directly support the treatment of individuals suffering from mental health disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Veterans.

 

Saint Patrick School is a Catholic elementary and junior high school located in the heart of downtown San Jose. In 2004, the Daughters of Charity chose St. Patrick School as a new partner in their mission to serve the least among us.  Approximately 88% of students come from low-income families with 90% receiving financial aid. The SOSJ grant of $25,000 will partially pay for the purchase of a new HVAC system for the school.

 

Starting Arts provides hands-on arts experience in 4 disciplines (dance, music, theatre and visual arts) in classes taught by skilled professional artists eager to share their expert knowledge and passion with students. Classes are standards-based and align with the Common Core Standards. Starting Arts, which began in 2000 at one elementary school in Santa Clara, has now served over 125 schools in the Bay Area. The $40,000 grant will largely cover the cost of renovating their existing rehearsal studio into a Black Box Theater with features such as mirrors and soft flooring that help dancers with their practice.  The renovated theater, which will seat 65 people, will also be provided free of charge to local Title 1 schools in the San Jose Unified, Alum Rock Union and Franklin McKinley School Districts.  The schools can use the theater to host assemblies, student concerts and staff development workshops.

 

Founded in 1970, Sunnyvale Community Services (SCS) is an independent, nonprofit emergency assistance agency in the heart of Silicon Valley. SCS’s mission is to prevent homelessness and hunger in our local community. SCS is designated as one of seven Emergency Assistance Network (EAN) agencies who together are the safety net for all zip codes in Santa Clara County. The goal of SCS is that all residents are safely and stably housed with food on the table, and with access to medical care and services. SCS addresses immediate critical needs to help low-income families and seniors who are often one bill away from hunger and homelessness.  SCS serves every eligible client who comes for help, never turning anyone away due to lack of resources. SCS assists low-income individuals with financial assistance for rent, security deposits, utility bills, car repairs, and gift cards for critical family needs.  In addition to financial aid, SCS distributes over 900 tons of nutritious food and produce annually and provides healthcare services through third parties. They will be moving into a new building in October 2021 and our $41,000 grant will pay for A/V equipment for thirteen client conference room which will help them better serve their clients.

 

2020

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County serves and advocates for individuals and families in need, especially those living in poverty. Each year they serve around 38,000 people, through a broad base of programs driven by a staff of more than 500 and over 1,000 volunteers at 80 community locations. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic CCSCC has been very active in supporting the low-income community. An area of particular concern is rent payments, with the average monthly rent payment in Santa Clara County being $2,817, with 43% of residents paying double the national average. St Joseph has awarded an immediate $50,000 grant for use by CCSCC specifically for the rent assistance program. After the grant was awarded CCSCC was able, working with the City of San Jose, to leverage our donation into an additional $4,000,000 of City support for low income rents which CCSCC will manage.

 

Sunday Friends is a very innovative non-profit, focused on empowering very low income families in San Jose. In response to Covid-19 they have focused on some very specific needs. They have implemented a weekly drive through and home delivery of basic necessities and food to over 140 families a week. They have migrated all their learning programs to online platforms, with over 300 people participating. In addition they have launched an Emergency Assistance Program disbursing payments towards rent relief, food costs and emergency expenses. St. Joseph Commandery has donated $50,000 towards this Emergency Assistance Program to be used as needed.

 

Second Harvest Food Bank is a primary source of food for not only the poor and homeless, but also supplies other food banks in the Bay Area. At this time of pandemic crisis the need has never been greater, with unbelievable lines of people looking for food. The Commandery held a zoom “Virtual Cocktail Party” both as a social gathering but also as an opportunity to raise funds. With over 57 people attending, 49 of who were Knights and Dames, their generosity resulted in over $10,000 donated with a 50% match from the Commanders designated reserve. Fifty percent of the funds raised, $7,525, were donated to Second Harvest Food Bank.

 

 Win Win x Two: At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic Mary Jo Garrett, wife of Chevalier Dick Garrett, decided she had to do something to help the health workers. It was realized that while the major hospitals have kitchens and canteens, many of the remote health facilities that were being created had nothing, including no easy access to restaurants. Working with a member of staff at Valley Medical Center Foundation, and with excellent support from Sam’s BBQ, Mary Jo has taken on the task of delivering hot meals every Saturday to both shifts of 20 healthcare workers at the Santa Clara Convention Center. Each Saturday this is a total of forty meals at $12.50 each for a total cost of $500 per week. Through some very generous donations Mary Jo had already raised almost $2,000, but given how long this problem is likely going to last this money would run out very fast. In addition there are many other facilities that could use this kind of help. Note that this program is a true win win as it not only supports our healthcare workers but also our local restaurants. The Commandery held a zoom “Virtual Cocktail Party” both as a social gathering but also as an opportunity to raise funds. With over 57 people attending, 49 of who were Knights and Dames, their generosity resulted in over $10,000 donated with a 50% match from the Commander’s designated reserve. Fifty percent of the funds raised, $7,525, were donated to Win Win x Two, through the VMC Foundation Covid-19 Fund for extension or expansion of Mary Jo’s program.

2019

• Diabetes Youth Families (DYF) created and operates the Bearskin Meadow Camp, housing over 750 participants and 150 staff, as a summer camp for children teens and adults with Type 1 Diabetes. The camp needs significant structural and facility improvements, specifically to the bath houses, medical building and dining hall and kitchen. The Commandery has committed $40,000 towards the costs of these projects.

 

• First Community Housing (FCH) design, develop and manage affordable housing for low-income households. Each of our developments is specifically designed to complement its unique neighborhood. A new construction will provide 40 studios for veterans, out of 179 total, the work will start in Q4 2019. The facility will include a large community kitchen and meeting space. St. Joseph is providing a grant of $40,000 towards the costs of ovens, refrigerators and industrial grade kitchen finishes and furnishings.

 

• Health Trust, founded in 1996, has a mission to build health equity in the community, ensuring that it’s direct services, community grants and policy advocacy help give everyone the opportunity to be healthy, especially the most vulnerable. Health Trust is opening a new Client Services and Operations Center. Our $75,000 grant will support a portion of the cost of design, renovation and furnishing expenses for this facility.

 

• Loaves & Fishes provides nutritious prepared meals that are delivered and served to disadvantaged individuals with a special concern for families, children seniors, veterans and the homeless. Over half a million meals were delivered within Silicon Valley during 2018. With the volume of deliveries the wear on their current truck is excessive and the Commandery grant of $38,000 funded the purchase of a new temperature controlled van.

• The Lupus Foundation pursues a mission of being a key provider of support services, educational programs, and information to empower lupus patients, their loved ones, and their care teams within Northern California. The $10,000 grant from St. Joseph will provide capital improvements for its computer, copier and printer hardware as well as specialized software.

 

• Sacred Heart Nativity School provides a Catholic education for 7 to 8 grade students of low-income families who live in urban poverty with family incomes of $29,000 or less. The families pay $540 a year in tuition fees and the rest is covered by donations. The school currently has a science classroom that will be converted to a STEM lab. The Commandery grant of $40,000 will help cover the cost or renovation, tables, chairs, computers, etc.

 

• Valley Medical Center is the county hospital group covering all of Santa Clara County providing world-class healthcare to all residents independent of ability to pay. At the new rehabilitation facility, in the new Sobrato Pavilion, there is an urgent need for better access to the swimming/exercise pools. St. Joseph is providing $20,000 for the purchase and maintenance of a new adaptive pool ramp that allows for aquatic wheelchair access and two additional modified aquatic wheelchairs to enable patients with high-level injuries and a wider variety of ability levels access to the pool.

 

• The Grateful Garment Project mission is to help return dignity to victims of sexual violence. When sexual assault victims seek medical attention they are asked to surrender their clothing for DNA evidence. Once clothing has been surrendered, the traumatized victim has nothing else to wear home but a hospital gown…only adding insult to injury. The Project is proud to provide new clothing, food, grooming supplies and other vital resources to Sexual Assault Service Providers throughout California. St Joseph has committed $40,000 to help pay for a new photocopier, software and IT products and a new cargo van to support product deliveries.

 

• George C. Mitchell Elementary School George Mitchell School is an elementary school in the Monterey Peninsula school district. A high percentage of the students come from military families and low income groups. St. Joseph pledged $1,000 for the purchase of books and other school supplies.

 

• Five additional very worthwhile charities made requests for major funding during 2019, but through the selection process could not be funded. The Commandery Council elected to provide each of these a nominal grant of $1,000 in recognition of their needs and gratitude for their submissions. These charities were One Step Closer, JW House, Operation Freedom Paws, American Board for Children Diabetics and Courageous Kids.

2011

• Valley Medical Centre: Support went to the Valley Medical Centre for this new facility for spinal cord and traumatic brain injury program. The gift supports the park which is crucial for rehabilitation. It provides a course to train wheelchair users and expose them to various surfaces such as gravel, steps, curves and hills. $100,000
• 

  Family Supportive Housing

  Family Supportive Housing: This organisation operates a shelter for homeless families in a converted warehouse. They provide a medical case manager to manage the program to address the families’ health needs. The Commandery provided funds for a medical room and related equipment in the residence for care, exams and inoculations. $50,000

2012

• Advent Group Ministries: Advent serves youth who are victims of addictions, abuse, neglect and chaotic family lives. They provide their services through four homes, after school recovery programs, counseling and women’s and children’s refuge. Most kids come from probation programs. For many, Advent is a last chance. One of the recovery residences located in Morgan Hill was in dire need of remodelling after 23 years of use as a group home. The Commandery provided the funding and it is now named “The Knights of St. John’s House”. We also funded a new van. $100,000
• National Alliance on Mental Illness: In partnership with Veteran’s Affairs, the Alliance teaches military families how to support and advocate for their loved one. One focus is increasing the awareness by families of the resources available to handle Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Commandery paid for kiosks and LCD displays describing the available resources and placed in appropriate locations such as Veteran’s hospitals and community colleges. $79,072

2013

• Defenders Lodge (Palo Alto): provides short term lodging for outpatient veterans and their caregivers while receiving medical treatment. This new facility is operated by the Veteran’s administration. The grant will help defray the construction costs. $100,000
• Mission Hospice and Home Care: A San Mateo based non-profit providing end of life care. Their rapid growth meant a need to upgrade their information structure, especially their Electronic Medical Record system. The program includes training of clinical staff, a common omission in such systems. $100,000

2014

• Life Services Alternatives: This group provides affordable housing options for developmentally disable adults in Santa Clara County. They purchased their eleventh home which needed major renovation and refurbishment. The grant paid for the majority of the refurbishment. $100,000
• Hospice of the Valley: They have provided end of life and grief care to those needing palliative care and their families since 1979.Their computer systems were antiquated. The Commandery grant funded server and software upgrades and the purchase of iPads, and the like to provide access at care locations to medical records for clinicians: $$75,000

2015

• Advent Group of Ministries: See 2012 above. The Commandery funded the modernization of Advent’s outdated information and phone systems.$25,000 matched by others
• One Step Closer Therapeutic Riding: This is an adaptive horseback riding center that helps 2000 children and adults, including over 200 U.S. veterans, each year. The Commandery donation will help refurbish the main bard, reducing safety issues. This will help staff to focus on their main objectives. $50,000
• St. Leo the Great School (STEM): This 120 year old school is emphasizing the use of technology throughout the curriculum. The school’s top priority is the implementation of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) program. The total cost was covered by $35,000 from the Commandery matched by one of our members
• Services for Brain Injury: We funded a project to upgrade their outdated information system, including an electronic record management system. $40, 000

2016

• Respite & Research for Alzheimer’s Disease: Alzheimer’s Activity Center:  This organization provides daycare services to older adults with Alzheimer’s and related disorders, support for their families, community education, and inter-generational programs facilitated though the co-location of a licensed childcare facility on the Center grounds.  It also serves as a small group cooking activity space for participants. SOSJ granted $60,000 for their project.

• Live Oak Adult Day Service: Live Oak Adult Day Care offers caregivers support and relief so that the caregiver can go to work, finish errands and other daily tasks while knowing that their loved one is well tended in a caring environment. In order to enhance the social/spiritual and calming of our clients, Live Oak would like to create a “Sovereign Order of St. John’s  Garden” at each of their four sites. SOSJ granted $30,000 to LOACS for the design & construction of the gardens.

• Hope Services: Hope Services is the leading provider of services to people with developmental disabilities in Silicon Valley, and serves more than 3,900 people and their families in six counties. One of their major strategic initiatives is implementing an Employment, Media, and Community Connections program, designed to provide opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities to learn, socialize, and receive services and supports that will improve the quality of their lives, and encourage them to be valuable members of the community.  SOSJ supported Hope’s project with a grant of $70,000.

• Costco Ministries: A local Pastor collects items from three different Bay Area Costco’s and delivers them several times each week for the past 7 years! The primary beneficiary of these precious gifts from Costco and administrated by this Pastor is City Team: Heritage Home and House of Grace.  Providing compassionate ministry for women who are pregnant and have no where else to turn and where abused and/or  addicted women can rebuild their lives without being separated from their children.  SOSJ gave this Ministry a grant of $35,000 to replace the aged truck-trailer.

• Family Supportive Housing: (See 2011) Family Supportive Housing completed the construction of a new residence for homeless families that combines the short term housing program with services to empower the families to move to self-sufficiency. For continued support in 2016 SOSJ donated $10,000 to FSH for the purchase of 18 Dell processors and one networked printer.

2017

Cancer  CAREpoint:  Cancer CAREpoint was founded in 2010 and provides a wide range of free, non-medical support services to cancer patients and their families. Despite the excellent medical care in the South Bay, non-medical support is lacking. Cancer CAREpoint is the only local organization in San Jose that provides support for cancer patients and their family members, regardless of where they receive treatment, their cancer type, insurance type or ability to pay. Their mission is to transform support for cancer patients, families and caregivers in Silicon Valley through personalized, one-on-one Counseling, Assistance, Resources and Education. They serve almost 1400 cancer patients and their families annually.

SOSJ is providing funding of $25,000 to purchase twelve new computers to replace current computers, the majority of which are over 7 years old.  This would significantly enhance their productivity and enable them to improve the way they track and support their patients.

Homeless Veterans Emergency Housing Facility (HVEHF):   HVEHF has provided transitional housing and supportive services to over 8000 homeless Veterans since its founding fourteen years ago. These vital services include housing, linkage to VA treatment programs, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, Mental Health and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatment.

HVEHF’s transitional housing program is designed not only to provide stable housing, but also serve as an access point to VA health care and benefits.  Currently, the facility has 25 treatment beds and 125 transitional housing beds for homeless in need of emergency housing services. They feed 150 homeless Veterans daily.

SOSJ is providing a grant of $65,000 that will be used for a much-needed major kitchen overall as well as to purchase a 15-passenger van that is needed to transport veterans to medical appointments, conduct out-reach efforts and bring homeless veterans to/from the facility to the Palo Alto VA.

JW House:   JW House is an independent, nonprofit hospitality house in Santa Clara that provides hope, hospitality and healing to caregivers and families while their loved ones receive treatment at hospitals in Silicon Valley. Whether caregivers live across town or hundreds of miles away, JW House strives to provide a fully-inclusive experience to each day use and overnight guest. Since opening in 2008, they have hosted more than 50,000 individual visits.

JW House provides two types of services: Overnight Services and the Day Use Program. Families who have traveled more than 30 miles to their hospital are eligible for overnight accommodations, and preference is given to families of pediatric patients.

The Day Use program enables local families, as well as others who may not qualify for an overnight stay, to enjoy JW House during the day. They offer private rooms with showers and toiletries as well as day beds. Dinner is served 365 nights per year.  All day use services are free of cost.

SOSJ is providing $38,200 in funding to purchase a number of household items including furniture, appliances, and a security system.

National Association on Mental Health (NAMI):  NAMI Santa Clara County’s mission is to help people with a lived experience of mental illness and families by providing support, education and advocacy; to promote research; to reduce stigma and discrimination in the community; and to improve services by working with mental health professionals and families. Their mission is accomplished through nine educational and support programs

In 2012, SOSJ provided $79,000 in funding for the construction of kiosks which are used to make Veterans and their families aware of a special version of NAMI’s very popular Family to Family Program that focuses on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.   Currently, SOSJ is providing funding of $25,700 to update their failure prone Information System by purchasing sixteen desktop computers and a server.

Homeless Veterans Rehab Program (HVRP): HVRP mission is to help Veterans return to employment and stable housing while maintaining a clean and sober lifestyle. SOSJ provided a $2,000 sponsorship for the Veterans Run Santa Clara, benefitting HVRP.

Veterans Supportive Services Agency (VSSA): VSSA mission is to help injured Veterans apply for service connected disability compensation or to assist them to file with the goal to reach a level of service connected disability up to 100%, if so richly deserved. VSSA also helps injured Veterans who already filed their claims and/or whose claims were denied. SOSJ provided a $2,000 sponsorship for the Veterans Run Santa Clara, benefitting VSSA.

Wine Country Marines: Wine Country Marines has mounted a major effort to support families impacted by the Wine Country fires of October 2017.  St. Joseph decided to donate $5,000 to these efforts.

Washington Elementary School: Washington Elementary School in San Jose generally serves the disadvantaged community in our valley.  St. Joseph decided to donate $2,000 to provide much needed books for the school.

Hope Services: Hope Services (HS) HS is a Bay Area-based nonprofit that seeks to improve the quality of life of people with developmental disabilities. Their vision is to promote a common understanding that the world is a better place when people with developmental disabilities are fully accepted and integrated into all aspects of society. In gratitude for what they do and there’re support of the St Joseph Christmas Party SOSJ gave a donation of $5000.

2018

JW House: JW House is an independent, nonprofit hospitality house in Santa Clara that provides hope, hospitality and healing to caregivers and families while their loved ones receive treatment at hospitals in Silicon Valley. JW suffered a major plumbing issue in January 2018 and SOSJ provided the emergency funding of $2,766 to resolve the problem.

Homeless Veterans Emergency Housing Facility HVEHF has provided transitional housing and supportive services to over 8000 homeless Veterans since its founding fourteen years ago. These vital services include housing, linkage to VA treatment programs, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, mental Health and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatment.

HVEHF’s transitional housing program is designed to not only provide stable housing, but also serve as an access point to VA health care and benefits.  They had an urgent need for an icemaker and St. Joseph made a one time grant to cover this cost.

Hunger at Home Hunger at Home is an independent, nonprofit that distributes donated food to the sick and poor in Silicon Valley. They needed new reusable food containers and racks to transport the food and St. Joseph donated $1,000 to support this request.

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County CCSCC serves and advocates for individuals and families in need, especially those living in poverty. Each year they serve around 38,000 people, through a broad base of programs driven by a staff of more than 500 and over 1,000 volunteers at 80 community locations. Eastside Neighborhood Center in San Jose is one of two senior centers operate by CCSCC, serving over 950 low income seniors, providing hot meals, healthcare and other social services. The facility is in urgent need of renovation and repair, in particular to ensure they can continue to pass health inspections. St. Joseph has pledged $25,000 for this work to be done. Additionally CCSCC headquarters has a suite of offices that it formally leased to a software company. This space, now vacant, needs renovation in order to serve CCSCC expanded staff. The Commandery pledged $35,000 for this work.

Cristo Rey San Jose Cristo Rey is a Jesuit Catholic high school that empowers students from underserved communities in San Jose. It provides students with a rigorous college prep education and a unique Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP), in which students work in Silicon Valley companies. The work-study program helps students offset the cost of their tuition and also provides them with valuable work skills, instills accountability and confidence and offers access to positive, professional role models. They are completing their campus with a multipurpose pavilion, including a gym, cafeteria and stage. The space will be outfitted with a full IT infrastructure to accomodate500 students, with projector, speakers and a full PA system. St. Joseph is proving $26,486 to pay in full for the sound system. Additionally the school has to transport the students to the CWSP participating companies, some as far as 20 miles away. As the school is growing to it’s full size of 500 students there is an urgent need for a new van to support this transportation. The Commandery has committed $25,000 to this van purchase.

Veterans Memorial & Support Foundation Los Gatos VMSFLG was formed to honor and support veterans, military service members and their families. The foundation has three missions, the first of which is to build and maintain a Veterans Memorial in Los Gatos. Secondly they will educate the public on the sacrifices borne by those who have defended America’s freedom. Lastly they support yellow ribbon programs that deliver humanitarian support to veterans, service members and families, in particular providing support to heroes returning from deployment in adjusting to civilian life. In early 2018 the Los Gatos Town Council approved the memorial, which will be located in front of the Town Center. Our Commandery has committed $50,000 towards the total fundraising goal of $1.5m

Operation Freedom Paws Operation Freedom Paws mission is to rescue shelter dogs and match them with disabled clients, training them together as service dog teams. Since their founding in 2010 they have helped over 325 applicants learn to use service dogs to help regain their independence. Approximately 80% of their clients are military veterans. For these veterans having a proper flagpole at the OFP center is extremely important and meaningful. They have secured funding for the pole itself but want to surround the base of the ole with six in-ground, weatherproof bronze insignias, one for each branch of the military and one for POW/MIA. St. Joseph is providing $10,000 to cover the cost of the plaques.

Home First Home First is a homeless shelter in San Jose. Many of their clients have pets that need to be properly accommodated when in the shelter. St. Joseph is providing $2,000 for the purchase of crates for the pets.

Good Karma Bikes Good Karma Bikes is a nonprofit social enterprise full service bike shop. Their primary programs are College Opportunity and Outreach Program (CO-OP), which focuses on training foster children and disadvantaged children through a two year college program, Free Repair Clinics and Women’s Skills and Open Shop Night, workshops focused on helping women with bike maintenance and road safety skills. The Commandery is providing $2,000 to buy new desks for the teachers.

George C. Mitchell Elementary School George Mitchell School is an elementary school in the Monterey Peninsula school district. A high percentage of the students come from military families and low income groups. St. Joseph pledged $1,000 for the purchase of books and other school supplies.

Hope Services Hope Services (HS) HS is a Bay Area-based nonprofit that seeks to improve the quality of life of people with developmental disabilities. Their vision is to promote a common understanding that the world is a better place when people with developmental disabilities are fully accepted and integrated into all aspects of society. In gratitude for what they do and there’re support of the St Joseph Christmas Party SOSJ will give a donation of $5000.

 

Grand Priory of the United States and Central America > Priory of San Francisco Bay > St. Francis Commandery

2022

The Commandery gave a donation of US$30,000 to the Commandery of Hungary to be used in the work supporting the refugees from the war in Ukraine. In addition, a grant of US$50k went to Homeless Prenatal Program, supporting homeless and low-income families.

Website: www.sosjwestusa.org

2022

2020

• The Homeless Prenatal Program: The San Francisco Commandery expeditiously responded to the needs of the most vulnerable population in San Francisco, homeless-pregnant women living on the streets, to assist in the battle against homelessness and the COVID-19 pandemic this year. $50,000.00 was donated to the Homeless Prenatal Program located in San Francisco. The Homeless Prenatal Program has been serving low-income and homeless families since it opened in 1989. The organization empowers low-income families, particularly mothers motivated by pregnancy and parenthood, to develop the strength and confidence they need to transform their lives. The onset of COVID-19 rapidly increased the numbers and critical needs among the homeless population. This included food, shelter, medical services and social services all of which the Homeless Prenatal Program extends to its clients and families. The agency’s growth and evolution has been guided by those it serves. We are honored to be advocates of their work.

2019

• The Sentinels of Freedom: The Sentinels of Freedom received an additional $32,000.00 from the San Francisco Commandery due to the success of two casual-elegant and uniquely located “Knights Around the Bay” events this year. The first at an elegant Spanish style building designed in 1928 as a Packard auto dealership that is now a classic car club and the other at the intimate Villa Taverna, a treasured private Italian dining club in San Francisco. Due to the generosity of hosting members all the ticket sales and pledges went directly to the Sentinels of Freedom Foundation. The mission of the Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Foundation is to assist severely wounded and injured post 9-11 veterans in their efforts to become productive and self-sufficient members of their communities as they transition in civilian life.

2014

• Operation Freedom Paws: This organisation assists returning veterans and other individuals with disabilities in acquiring the tools and knowledge to train and service their own service dogs. This helps overcome anxiety disorders and reduces the problems caused by the multi-year waiting list for trained dogs from existing organisations. $12,000.
• George Mark Children’s House: This Bay Area facility is a leader in pediatric palliative care. They emphasize family-centered medical care that emphasizes quality of life in a compassionate and supportive atmosphere. $5,000.

2015

• Operation Freedom Paws: See 2014. $20,000.
• George Mark Children’s House: See 2014. $40,000.
• Operation Digging Deep: Digging Deep is a workbook for parents and children with cancer or other serious illnesses. The book guides families through exercises and important conversations about feelings, questions and concerns they have about their illnesses. The donation makes these books available to families who could otherwise not afford them. $20,000.

2016

This movie was shown at our 2016 Christmas Ball to highlight the history of the Order and to announce and promote our chosen charities.

The George Mark Children’s House, the first pediatric palliative care facility in the United States, received $50,000 to continue its work in providing comprehensive, compassionate and life affirming care for children and their families.  The funding was utilized for construction of a memorial garden which continues to celebrate the lives and stories of these children and gives solace to their families.  The San Francisco Commnadery is noted on a permanent plaque in the facility for our continued generosity and support.

Digging Deep received $50,000 to support its efforts in creating a digital game, Shadow’s Edge, which allows teens faced with a terminal diagnosis the ability to explore their illness and to build resilience through their experience.  The game also allows them to build community with other teens facing similar life challenges in an effort to build their support circle.

2017

We are delighted to report the San Francisco Commandery was able to support two very worthy charities from the proceeds derived from our annual Christmas gala, The White Cross Ball. The event took place at the stunning St. Regis Hotel on Saturday, December 2nd.  Dame Lorna Meyer Calas was Christmas Ball Chair and led under the auspices of Commander Karen Persichitte.

The George Mark Children’s House, located in San Leandro, CA, received $76,000 from our Commandery to continue its work in providing quality of life and continuity of care for children with illnesses modern healthcare cannot yet cure, or for those who have chronic medical conditions.  As the first freestanding pediatric palliative care facility in the United States, The George Mark Children’s House has created a replicable model of care for children and their families from which other like-minded facilities have been created.  The scope of care provided by the skilled and professional staff has expanded and now not only provides end of life and bereavement care, but transitional and respite care. This facility continues to be a beacon of light for families in the Bay Area and beyond.

The Sentinels of Freedom also received $76,000 from our Commandery to continue their great work in supporting wounded veterans. Founder and CEO, Mike Conklin, was inspired to establish Sentinels of Freedom in 2003 after one of his sons was wounded in Iraq. He had great concern for wounded warriors without family or community support and wanted to ensure they had tangible means and support for full recovery. The Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Fund was created to provide not only comprehensive, but personalized care. The mission of the Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Foundation is to assist severely wounded and injured, post 9/11 veterans in their efforts to become productive and self- sufficient members of their communities as they transition back to civilian life.

 

Grand Priory of the United States and Central America > Priory of Western United States > Sierras Commandery

2022

The Sierras Commandery will have donated a total of US$78,449 to six worthy charities during 2021/22. Renown Hospital received money for a new centrifuge and also for 36 prayer boxes and room divider. Domestic Violence Resource Center got money for kitchen ware and linens and Pack Provisions received US$2k for supplies and food for those in need at UNR. Compassion Dental received US$2k for a pilot transportation program to get those in need to free dental care. Lastly Reno Sparks Gospel Mission will receive US$52,000 to purchase a refrigerated truck for transportation of perishable food for those in need in the community.

2021

Commandery members submitted eleven Charity Beneficiary Applications, and the Almoner Committee, consisting of Prior Brian Rauschhuber, Commander Renée Verrier, Vice-Commander Don Witt, Justice Richard Harris, and Herald Diane Mancini, led by Almoner Larry Lange, visited and evaluated   each   potential   charity,   then   made   funding   recommendations   to   the   entire Commandery.  Funding for four charities by the end of the year was unanimously approved: 1) Renown Hospital, South Meadows Lab… $11,200 for a new centrifuge, from a combination of member donations and Commandery funds; 2) Domestic Violence Resource Center…$1000 for kitchen-ware, linens, etc from Commandery funds; 3) Pack Provisions, helping those in need at UNR with supplies and food…$2000 from Commandery member donations; and 4) Renown Hospital  (Spiritual  Center)  Prayer  Boxes…$10,000  from  Commandery  funds.    Prayer  Box details are still being worked out.

 

2011

• Renown Children’s Hospital Pediatric Family Room for the Pediatric ICU: This provided furniture for parents and friends of children while they are waiting to visit their child or friend in in intensive care. $15,000.

2012

• The Assistance League: Help equip the new food pantry building for the Pantry program. This program provides food for indigent seniors. $12,000.

2013

• Washoe County Child Advocacy Center: The donation furnished the waiting room and carpeted the building. This program is a single location where a child who has been abused or raped can see doctors, health professionals, police and district attorneys. This program minimizes the need for the child to tell their story many times to different people at different locations. $30,000.

2015

• High Sierra Industries and Washoe Ability Service Center: This is a merged organization that serves physically and mentally challenged people. The Commandery donation is for the furnishing of a new building. $30,000.
• Compassion Community Clinic: For indigent dental care – $1500
• Various Donations: Minor contributions to Women and Family Shelter, The Sheriff’s Walkabout Program and the Women’s and children’s Center of the Sierras totalling $3100.

2017

• Reno City Lights: Reno City Lights is our premier fundraising event, held in December each year, in 2017 at the Nevada Museum of Arts. All proceeds from this event ($15,000) were donated to Reno Veterans Guest House which will use it to help fund a major expansion of the facility due to open in 2018.
• Committee to Aid Abused Women: A donation was made to Committee to Aid Abused Women, who received $1,500
• Safe Embrace: An $8,000 donation was made to Safe Embrace.
• Homeless Shelter: Members painted a homeless shelter, spending a further $600 on supplies.

2019

Eddy House: The Eddy House provides services to homeless youth in the Reno metropolitan area. These services include food, counseling and transportation to schools, job interviews and medical services. To assist in this mission, the Commandery donated a total of US$35,162 for purchase of a 2018 12-passenger van, vehicle insurance through 2020 and vehicle registration fees. The Commandery’s contribution included a distribution of $5,250 raised during our biannual Reno City Lights event held on November 22^nd 2019.

Victory Ranch: Victory Ranch is a Reno based charity that provides “equine therapy” to local veterans and troubled youth. The primary programs, conducted at a small private ranch, are the Horse Art Program and the Veterans Ranch Visit Program. Victory Ranch is in its fourteenth year of operation. The Commandery donation of US$10,000 allowed the Ranch to construct a hay storage barn.

Justin Hope: The Justin Hope Foundation provides support to individuals and families in Nevada affected by neurodevelopemental disorders, including but not limited to autism. The Commandery donated US$10,000 to fund support groups, workshops and adaptive recreational classes for the special needs community.

Grand Priory of the United States and Central America > Priory of San Francisco Bay > Western Military Commandery

Website: www.sosjwestusa.org

2022

The Commandery made three donations totaling US$42,000 in this period. US$12k went to USA for UNHCR, specifically supporting Ukrainian, Syrian and Iraqui refugees. A further US$10k went to Home First, an agency supporting the homeless in Santa Clara County and US$20k went to Swords to Plowshares, a Bay Area non-profit focused on supporting veterans.

2019/20

Veterans Administration Palo Alto: Provides healthcare services of all kinds to veterans in the Bay Area and beyond. In support of their efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic the Commandery donated $10,000, $4,000 for sanitizer and $6,000 for face masks, to help protect the healthcare workers.

2011

• Semper Fi Fund: The most reputable fund focussed on wounded Veterans. $12,500.
• Bergen University of Canine Studies: This donation was for the “Paws for Purple Hearts” program. $12,500.
• Children’s Book project. $5,000.
• Clausen House: $25,000.
• George Mark Children’s House: $15,000.
• Services for Brain Injury: $32,250.

2012

• Advent Group Ministries. $40,000.
• Clausen House: $12,000.
• Family Supportive Housing: $50,000.
• George Mark’s Children’s House: $10,000.

2013

• Advent Group Ministries: $43,725.
• Assistance League of Reno: $12,000.
• Clausen House: $12,000.
• George Mark Children’s House: $10,000.
• Mission Hospice of San Mateo County: $54,000.
• Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation: $10,000.

2014

• Advent Group Ministries: $15,700.
• Children’s Advocacy Centre: $30,000.
• Diablo Valley Veterans Foundation: $5,000.
• George Mark Children’s House: $10,000.
• Helpers of the Mentally Retarded: $5,100.
• Life Services Alternative: $50,000.
• Mission Hospice of San Mateo County: $18,326
• Operation Freedom Paws: $12,000.
• Pentagon Federal Credit Union Foundation: $50,000.

2016

• Achieve Tahoe: This organization operates special adaptive summer and winter one -week military camps using trained instructors that provide specialized adventure learning and training in various seasonal outdoor sports for disabled veterans and their families. This organization is based at Alpine Meadows Resort, Lake Tahoe, CA. $5000.

• Project Healing Waters: This local program at the Martinez, CA Veterans Administration hospital, is part of a national organization that is focused on the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled veterans through the teaching and participation in all aspects of fly fishing. The Martinez group consists of twenty in-patient veterans who suffer these disabilities. $5000.

• San Francisco East Bay Stan Down: Provided monetary and personal support for this special, every other year VA program, which provides a three day encampment featuring many health and welfare support programs focused on homeless veterans in the bay area. $1000.

• One Step Closer: This organization, operating in Morgan Hill, CA, provides programs in therapeutic horseback training and other equine assisted therapy programs. We provided funding for services to disabled veterans and their families. $5500.

• Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra: This program, based at Mammoth Mountain Ski Lodge, Mammoth Lakes, CA, provides winter and summer programs for the disabled, using specially trained instructors and adaptive equipment. Winter skiing or snowboarding, and summer hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, cycling and horseback riding are featured. Our funds were directed to support program participation by disabled veterans. $5000.

2017

• Napa/Sonoma Valley Wildfires: Following the massive wildfires in the Napa/Sonoma Valley area the Commandery donated $10,000 and raised an additional $15,000 from other Commanderies and individuals to the Wine Country Marines to support their fire relief efforts.
• “Under the Angels”: The Commandery organized their first fundraiser for a long time with “Under the Angels” a very successful trip on a boat on the San Francisco Bay during Fleet Week with an astonishing display by the Blue Angels.
• Service and Social Events: Members served Thanksgiving Dinner to many homeless individuals at Salute’s in Richmond. Additional social events included Pre-Valentines cocktails and dinner, a Commandery meeting, a Veterans Day service at the Presidio with lunch and other brunch and dinner events.

Grand Priory of St. Henrik (Finland)

2022

Thanks to the donations of our members, Tampere Commandery has been able to donate 10.000 € with the help of the social work channels of the Lutheran church. The support has gone directly to the poor who really need it and at a time of the year that other charity organizations are normally not active.

The Commandery of Central Finland organized in April 2022 a charity concert. The result was 2.970 € and the amount was directed, with the help of Church’s Foreign Aid, to children in Ukraine.

2019

The Commandery of Tampere donated 5000 Euros for charity.in the year 2019.

During Easter, 4000 € was donated through deacons of the Lutheran Church to poor children for summer.

We planned to donate 5000 € for Christmas, but because there was greater need in January 2020, the donation for 2019 was only 1000 € (for families with children) and 4000 € was the delivered in the first part of 2020.

We also had a recreation day for handicapped children with skee doo riding and barbecuing sausage on bonfire.

At the Johanneksen Klinikka, some people have been treated for free by our different medical specialists.

 

The Commandery of Central Finland was just started in 2019 so donations have been made individually, not by the Commandery.

2011

• Support for the Plan Finland Foundation to provide monthly help to a student on a special project. This was by way of a test project. 300 €
• Sewing Machine for a poor dress maker student. 675 €
• Assistance to young students in danger of social exclusion. The subsidy was through the Evangelical Lutheran Church and their Messi support centre. It was very useful in keeping distressed students in school. 2000 €

2012

• Continuing subsidy for the youth work organized by the Lutheran church. 2500 €

2013

• The Grand Priory celebrated the 900th Anniversary of the Order with a special effort to help those in need, to total 12600 €. The gifts were the following.
• Support to the Messi guidance and activity centre for distressed young people as managed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church and an association of young Christian men in Tampere. 7000 €
• Support to the Osvitta Crisis Centre. 1900 €
• Support for the Mummon kammari, a voluntary organisation that helps the elderly. 900 €
• Support for poor families whose fathers are in jail. 900 €
• Help for a family who lost their home to fire. 1000 €
• Help for a student and an association that helps poor families. 900 €

2014

• Various projects to total 9000 €

2015

• Help for the victims of the Nepal earthquake. 2000 €
• Support for the Finnish Red Cross Good Holiday Spirit campaign for less fortunate families in Finland with children. 3500 €

Grand Priory of France > Priory of Brittany

2022

The hospital actions of the Priory of Brittany are ensured by “Association of Social and Hospital Works of the Regular Order of Saint John of the Holy Land in Brittany” under the auspices of the Priory of Brittany. The Priory of Brittany Association manages:

– 3 Establishments and Services for Help through Work (ESAT) which take care of nearly 250 mentally handicapped people or people who have been victims of addictions and who can no longer live independently, former alcoholics, drug addicts, abandoned people and offer jobs in our workshops.

– 3 medico-psycho-educational centers (CMPP) for early childhood care providing more than 22,000 sessions per year to 1,300 children and adolescents with social or psychological difficulties.

The years 2020 and 2021 have been particularly difficult for our establishments because of the pandemic. We had to put in place barrier gestures, support and care for our users. All our teams provided themselves with great dedication. These various actions, while the situation was unknown, made it possible to ensure the safety and care of our various users, disabled adults and children.

The Association manages a budget of 8 million euros and has real estate valued at 4.4 million euros. We have about 130 employees: Directors, psychiatrists, psychologists, educators, social workers, speech therapists, secretaries and other employees.

Everything has been done to avoid the isolation and distress of our users, with particular attention to those who no longer have a family. In our psychiatric establishments, care has been maintained with the setting up of care sessions with children and their families by videoconference. The economic situation has evolved and we have had to stop the horticultural activity of our establishment in Saint Jean and create a packaging activity for small objects in order to continue to be able to provide protected work for disabled adults.

 

The objective of the Priory’s charity is to help the disabled, homeless and children suffering from psychological troubles.

In 1971, the Knights and Dames of the Priory of Britain wondered how to ensure collectively the “pro utilitate omnium” Rule of the Order in addition to what everyone agrees to do as individuals.

Thanks to Providence, they were in contact with a group of doctors who sought the support of an association to carry out a project the Priory felt they could whole-heartedly support over the long term. It was and is to carry assistance to children, from birth to 20 years, suffering from serious psychological problems. Our brothers were passionate about the project that met an important need and decided to support it. Many have donated money and buildings or have made long-term loans without interest.

Their first psychological medical center was created in 1972. Shortly after, our brothers created the “Association of Social Works and Hospitallers from the Regular Order of Saint John of the Holy Land in Britain” under the auspices of the Order.

Investment was so great that soon the Association applied for public aid. In France there is a law that allows private organizations to receive some help from the State provided they are creating or taking over educational or non-profit institutions whose purpose is to teach or give medical support to the needy. To receive such help, these institutions must sign an agreement and follow certain rules. The State aid supports operating costs for salaries and some investments. We own the buildings and are responsible for the management.

Our financial resources come from profits from the sale of products manufactured in the workshops for disabled, grants, concerts and bazaars.

Today, the initial support has grown to support other charitable activities. The Association of the Priory of Brittany created and manages:

• 3 centers medico-psycho-pedagogical (CMPP) for childcare and youth mental or social problems providing more than 22,000 sessions per year to 1,300 children. The centers are at Brest (1971), Redon (1977) and Vitré (1979).
• 3 Centers and Services Assistance by work (ESAT) that support nearly 150 physically or mentally handicapped individuals or former alcoholics and provides jobs within our workshops.
• Center Saint Yves in Plouray (1982) provides five workshops, woodworking, a farm, wood charcoal, and garden maintenance for a total of 63 handicapped people.
• Center La Corbinais at Saint Jean sur Cousenon (1987) provides garden maintenance and nursery activities for 34 handicapped people.
• Center Saint John at Fougeres (1988) provides care to 34 adults with serious deficiencies.
• A shelter for disabled employees and a home for disabled retirees.

In addition, we actively support the St. Joseph Village, which is an organization that provides accommodation and reintegration for homeless people

The Priory also provides help to those in need on a one off project basis comparable to other Priories. In particular, the Priory has provided shipments to hospitals and orphanages of medical equipment, drugs, food and clothing and comparable help to countries suffering from natural disasters or war. Counties that have benefited include Bosnia, Kosovo, Romania, Cambodia, the Ivory Coast, Congo, Palestine, Vietnam, Algeria, Morocco, Cameron, Benin and Haiti. Nicaragua was helped in cooperation with the Commandery of Palm Beaches. . Most often the equipment that is sent has been reworked by the Commandery of Leon-Cournaille and shipped by sea or trucked with a member of the Sovereign Order to be sure the goods are delivered to the right people

The annual budget for management of the 6 facilities is € 9m.

Other donations include:

2008

• The Association bought the buildings for the village Saint Joseph for $150 000 US.
• Each year we finance the shipment of medical equipment to Africans countries for $2000 US.

2014

• The Association made a bank guarantee for an investment of $800 000 US to restore the buildings of the “village Saint Joseph”: Fifteen new people can be safely and comfortably accommodated with individual rooms or studios, kitchen, meeting rooms, chapel and workshop.

2015

• June 2015. The Priory gave $15 000 US to support Christians in the Middle East being persecuted for their faith.
• September 2015. The Priory organized a concert and we gave the benefit of US $1 000 for a French association that deals with the welcome of Syrian refugees in Brittany.

2017

December 2017: Expansion and modernization of the building of the Medico-psycho-pedagogical center (CMPP) for child care of Brest.

In Brest (Brittany) there was in the sixties a therapeutic support structure to help children and adolescents with language, dyslexia and school problems. In 1971 the Knights of the Order of Saint John made the decision to support the association that managed this center and wanted to expand its skills. We then financed the purchase of a building to create the CMPP of Brest.

Today the center employs 25 people and provides 11,000 therapeutic acts per year to 700 children.

It was necessary to modernize and enlarge the premises. It took 3 years to find the funding of 600,000€. A small portion comes from donations, another from a long-term loan and another is funded by our Association of Social and Hospitaller Works witch insure the “pro utilitate hominum” of the Order since1971

The inauguration took place on December 21, 2017 in the presence of numerous personalities.

              

                                                         The new building

May 2017: The St Jean sur Couesnon ESAT of The Center store has been given a makeover!

This establishment exists since 1962 and was created by an association of “Friends and Parents of Unsuitable Children” from the region of Fougères in Brittany. On their personal resources, they financed a specialized teacher for a few years. Soon, other families joined this initiative for their own children. Ten years later, it was the meeting between the Chevalier Mazéas and the Abbot Jules Martinais of the parish of St Jean sur Couesnon (Brittany) that allowed the foundation of a larger establishment. The Abbot Martinais bequeathed a lot and a large house to the Corbinese, allowing the later creation of a Center and Service Assistance by Work for Disabilities in 1987.

Our Association of Social and Hospital Workers owns it in 1996.

The new standards of accessibility of the premises and a certain dilapidated led us to rebuild our store sales to the public that we also wanted more spacious and more enjoyable for customers.

The new store

 

Gardening equipment for our center Saint Jean for disabled

Workshop of the ESATt St Jean

 

Commandery of Hungary

2022

The Commandery of Hungary took an active role in helping the Ukrainian refugees, and organized fund raising throughout the entire Order. Already in June 2022 nearly 100.000 USD was donated by various commanderies and individual members to their Hungarian Foundation of the Knights Hospitaller. Most European commanderies have directed their help to the refugees who keep coming in thousands to their countries. The commandery of Hungary is purchasing the most urgent EEG and ultrasonic equipment for the Transcarpathian Children Hospital in Beregove/Beregszász (Ukraine), and similar equipment to the Hungarian Saint Damian Greek Catholic Hospital.

 

In line with its traditions, the Commandery of Hungary of the Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller held its charity evening for the benefit of Hospital Bugát Pál in Gyöngyös on December 2, 2016. Apart from the Sovereign Order, beneficiary Hospital Bugát Pál and the Municipality of the Town of Gyöngyös got also actively engaged in the organization of the event as a result of which several donations were offered on part of physicians, entrepreneurs and private individuals living in town and its proximity. The charity concert as well as wine and painting auction took place in Gyöngyös, in the classic Orczy Castle.

Part of the program was a successful concert by an ad-hoc band, which was formed for the purpose of this very occasion from the members of one of the most popular bands in Hungary called Omega and the widely known band named Dr. Rock comprising physicians.

Our star guests were László Benkő and Ferenc Debreczeni, an honorary citizen of the town of Gyöngyös, as well as composer and pianist Béla Jankai.

The wine auction featured excellent wines donated by private individuals and a number of domestic vineries, whereas the painting auction was enriched by pictures of renowned painting artist Izolda Macskássy.

Hospital Bugát Pál has been a key medical service provider and employer in the region throughout its existence of 178 years. It ensures professional treatment of over 1,000 bedridden patients and more than 40,000 outpatients per year thanks to the hard work of physicians and other medical staff.

All proceeds of the charity evening will be used by Hospital Bugát Pál for the purpose of purchasing medical equipment necessary for proctological examinations. Donations raised in the amount of HUF 2,000,000 were solemnly handed over in a ceremony in Gyöngyös on January 25, 2017.
            

Grand Priory of the UK and Ireland > Commandery of Glasgow

2022

Due to lockdown stringencies, 2020/2021 saw a scaled down level of activity with most of our communications and endeavours being on Zoom. We did hold monthly joint Zoom meetings with the London Commandery as well as our own core group.

In December 2020 we held a Watchnight Service presented by Dame Rev. Christine Murdoch via zoom from her church. In January 2021 we held an online Burns Supper which was distributed to our members in Europe, North America and Canada. To our delighted surprise it was well received on an international level. June 26^th 2021 we had a Zoom St Johns patron day event which saw our members share lunch together. November 2021 we held a Zoom St Andrews Night with the Phoenix Choir, Eddie McGuire playing flute and poetry reading by Chevalier Brian Fleming and thus Celebrated our Scottish Patron Saint  January 29^th 2022 we held our Burns Supper via Zoom with invited quests. Sophie Rocks renowned Scottish Harpist and Horse McDonald Singer Songwriter. June 2022 we held a Charity Concert with the Phoenix Choir at Chevaliers Fr Kevin Murrays Church for the Hungarian Commandery in their support for Ukrainian refugees in Hungary. June 26th we held our St Johns day celebration at Cromlix Hotel near Dunblane with a Reflective Service and retreat lead by Chevalier Fr Kevin Murray followed by afternoon tea.

Monies distributed to the sick and poor over this period went to Dumbarton Women´s Aid, Dundee Food distribution, Helensburgh Food Bank and Ukrainian Refugees in Hungary.

Financial support for Yan, a ten year old Ukrainian boy, and his mother now living in Glasgow. Our Commandery is hoping to be able to help these two refugees for at least the next year.

 

2011

• Loaves and Fishes: This charity started out more than 20 years ago as a soup kitchen, feeding homeless people from the back of a van. Today Loaves and Fishes is based at Renfield St Stephen’s Church Centre in Glasgow and each Monday and Thursday evening the volunteers provide a hot meal and distribute food parcels to around 40 destitute men and women in a safe environment where neither aggressive behavior nor intoxication will be tolerated. £2,000.
• Various smaller donations went to East Kilbride Women’s Aid (£600); Kilcreggan Youth Trust (£500); Bobath Scotland Children’s Therapy Centre (£1,000); Graih Charity for the Homeless (£500); Kemmyrk Charity for the Homeless (£500).

2012

• St Andrews Hospice: The hospice is based in Airdrie, Lanarkshire and provides a holistic service completely free of charge to patients and their families irrespective of religious, cultural or ethnic background. £10,000.
• Bobath, Scotland:   Bobath provides therapy for children with cerebral palsy and also provides support for their families. £4,000.
• Marie Curie Hospice, Glasgow:   This donation was made to assist the hospice provide essential services to patients suffering terminal illnesses and was particularly relevant because it was made in memory of the late HE Bailiff, Grand Prior Emeritus Donald J Storrie GCSJ, MMSJ who was Chairman of the Big Build Appeal Committee which raised £16.1 million to build the hospice which was opened by HRH Prince Charles in 2011. £5,000.
• Various smaller donations were made to Loaves and Fishes (£2,000); Red Cross Kintyre Transport Appeal (£1,000); The Preshal Trust (£1,500); The Tullochan Trust (£1,500); The Simon Community (£1,500); Easterhouse Phoenix Development (£1,500); Erskine Hospital for Service Veterans (£1,000).

2013

• St Andrews Hospice – see 2012:  £10,000
• St John Hospice, Vancouver: A donation in memory of the late Donald Storrie was made as a contribution towards the build costs of this hospice constructed as a result of a wonderful initiative by the Vancouver Commandery.
• Accord Hospice: Donation to assist with operational costs of this hospice which serves patients from Paisley and Renfrewshire in Scotland. £3,500
• The Simon Community: The Simon Community addresses issues around drug and alcohol addiction, mental health and the many complex problems the volunteers encounter as they support over 2000 homeless and vulnerable people each year. Because of emotional and mental health problems many of the individuals continue to insist on sleeping rough even when safe accommodation is offered to them. £2,500.
• Loaves and Fishes – see 2011: £3,500.
• Erskine Hospital: Erskine was founded in 1916 with the aim of caring for Service men and women who had been injured in active service. Still today, Erskine remains as Scotland’s foremost provider of care for veterans and their spouses providing unrivalled nursing, residential, respite and dementia care in its homes. Erskine also has special units dealing with disabled servicemen who have suffered severe injuries and emotional illnesses associated with conflict. £3,000.
• Calum’s Cabin: Calum Speirs was a young lad brought up on the Isle of Bute, in the Firth of Clyde, who died of an inoperable brain tumour in 2007 at the age of 12. His parents and their friends founded a charity to build a cottage (cabin) on the Isle of Bute to enable families in similar circumstances with a young child, terminally ill with cancer, and who otherwise could not afford to go on holiday, to spend a week, free of charge, in a lovely cabin on the beautiful Isle of Bute. There are now two cabins and our donation assisted towards operating costs to enable terminally ill young children and families to stay in a cabin for one week, all expenses paid. £2,500.
• Various smaller donations were given to The Preshal Trust (£2,000); Red Cross Kintyre Transport Appeal (£1,000); Pain Concern, Scotland (£1,000); Scottish Huntingtons Association (£1,000); Starter Packs, Glasgow (£2,000); The Carers Trust (£1,000).

2014

• St Andrews Hospice – See 2012. St Andrews has just started a Capital Appeal to raise £8 million to enable it to carry out a major refurbishment of the building to greatly improve the existing facilities in addition to increasing occupancy by creating more single bedded rooms than it has at present. £20,000.

2015

• Kilbryde Hospice:   Kilbryde is a recently built hospice in Lanarkshire and is based in East Kilbride near Glasgow It is scheduled to be fully operational by early 2016 and our donation contributed towards the fitting out and furnishing costs of one of the suites for patients. £5,000.
• Marie Curie Hospice: A contribution was made towards the annual cost of a Cancer Care Community Nurse in Lanarkshire £10,000.
• Donations were also given to the following charities which had received donations in previous years – Erskine Hospital (£3,500); Loaves and Fishes (£3,500); Simon Community (£3,500); The Preshal Trust (£2,000); St Andrews Hospice (£5,000).

Grand Priory of the UK and Ireland > Commandery of London

2022 (July)

London commandery has made two 1.000 Pound donations, one to Parkinson ‘s Disease charity, Parkinson’s UK, in memory of their former commandery treasurer Chevalier Gerard Irwin KSJ, and another to Compliments of the House, a London based charity providing food banks in the capital. The commandery has a balance of over 15.000 Pounds, made of subscriptions and one-off donations by the members. The intention is to find a main charity with whom a close working relationship could be established.

2022

Regarding charitable funding, the core activity of the London Commandery, we have made two £1,000 charitable donations this past 12 months, one to Parkinson’s Disease charity, Parkinson’s UK, in memory of our former commandery treasurer Chevalier Gerard Irwin KSJ RIP, and another to Compliments of the House, a London based charity providing food banks in the capital. Our Charity Fund currently has a balance of over £15,000, made up of subscriptions and one-off donations by members. We are currently investigating which charities should benefit from this largesse. It is our intention to find a main charity with whom we could establish a close working relationship. This would hopefully bring our identity to the fore and assist the commandery in finding new members, as well as helping raise more charitable funds.

2011

• Restore Project in Uganda:   Restore has been working in Uganda since 2006, primarily promoting human rights and educational developments. £3,267.
• Various other small donations included Hospice of St Francis (£620); Camphill Village Trust (£1,000); The Pilgrimage Trust (£1,000); Peace Hospice (£1,000); Kent Air Ambulance Trust (£1,000); Moorfields Eye Charity (£1,000); Anidan (£1,000)

2012

• Action Aid Hellas:  The donation to Action Aid was a contribution towards the costs of building a new primary school for 875 pupils in the Northern Province of Rwanda. £2,053.2013

2013

• Action Aid Hellas – see 2012. £2,177.
• Various other donations were given to St Vincent’s Nursing Home (£750); Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance (£750); Haywards Heath Food Bank (£750); Anidan (£750); Marie Curie Cancer Care (£750); British Red Cross Typhoon Haiyan Appeal (£1,000); Shoeburyness & Thorpe Bay Baptist Church (£750).

2015

• Various donations including Educate Ethiopia (£1,750); Hospice St Francis (£875); St Peter & St James Hospice (£875); St Vincent’s Nursing Home (£875); Camphill Village Trust (£875); Cocina Economica (£1,131); Ark of the World (£1,144).

Dagmar Commandery

2022

 

Dagmar Commandery has from their beginning, concentrated in getting highly qualified members, who can each give a significant input in founding a Centre of Excellence in Paediatric Palliative Care. The project is very demanding and has required a lot contacts and legal preparations before the Dagmar Commandery Foundation could have permission to start practical activity. According to the Danish legislation, this type of foundation requires a minimum of 300 founding members/donors from the EU area and therefore many members of the Order have become support members. In total there are now 384 donor members from 13 countries around the world.

The Core Mission is to provide a home-from-home environment free of charge, offering expert nursing and medical care, including the management of difficult symptoms, for children and adolescents at end of life, alongside practical and emotional support for their families.