Freemasons Hall on Reid Street in Hamilton was a proper setting on Monday for representatives of several charitable groups to receive donations from the Freemason Fund totalling $18,000.

The Freemasons' Fund for Bermuda is a registered charity formed in 1981. It was created as a vehicle to allow Bermuda's wide-ranging and diverse Masonic community to extend charity and benevolent assistance to the Bermuda community at large.

Masonic Lodges, of which there are 13, and individual Freemasons contribute freely to the fund which in turn makes charitable distributions, not only providing a positive community focus for Bermuda's Freemasons, but generally to enhance the perception and reputation of Freemasonry as a caring organisation within the community.

Since the Freemasons' Fund was established, monetary contributions exceeding $200,000 have been made to various areas including health, education, sports bodies.

To name only a few, they included the Bermuda Hospitals Board, PALS, St. John Ambulance Brigade, Bermuda Cancer & Health Association, Bermuda Red Cross, Agape House, Friends of Hospice, Bermuda Stroke & Family Support Association, Bermuda Mental Health Foundation, Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association, Allan Vincent Smith Foundation, Bermuda Society for the Blind, Bermuda Ballet Association, National Dance Foundation, Children's Reading Festival and the Bermuda Academy of Music

Pictured at Monday's presentation above are PALS, represented by Ann Smith Gordon; National Dance Foundation's Mary Faulkenberry; Meals on Wheels by Wendy Madeiros; Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association represented by Ben Smith; Kristin White for Raleigh International Bermuda; The Family Centre represented by Martha Dismont; the Bermuda Sloop Foundation represented by Malcolm Kirkland; and the Bermuda Volleyball Association by Lisa LeBlanc. Accepting the donation on behalf of the Bermuda Society for the Blind was lodge representative Dueane Dill. Representing the Freemasons' Fund for Bermuda at the presentations were Derek Fletcher, president; Neville Tyrrell, 1st vice-president; Sean Pitcher, 2nd vice-president and Viv Redford, secretary.