| |
 |
| Arms of our Sovereign Order |
|
CHARITIES
SAN FRANCISCO COMMANDERY
Among
other good works such as support for Episcopal Charities at Grace
Cathedral, Clausen House in Oakland has traditionally been a special
charity of the San Francisco Commandery. Clausen House is a teaching
and training facility for youths and adults who are developmentally
challenged, or who suffer from cerebral palsy or autism. Clausen House
continues to enjoy a remarkable success in assisting their charges in
their preparation for successful independent living as working adults.
Other direct charities include the George Mark Children's House, which
on opening in early 2004 was the first hospice in the United States
created specifically to care for terminally ill children.
ST. JOSEPH COMMANDERY The Commandery of St. Joseph has elected these worthy entities to receive their 2011-2012 charitable funds support:
Valley Medical Center
- Terrain Park Project (part of new complex for spinal cord and brain
injury programs). Project funding is for construction of a a
"terrain park", The Sovereign Order of St. John "Plaza". The "park"
will be designed to prepare wheelchair and brace patients for
discharge by providing a rehabilitation environment composed of a wide
variety of surface types, emulating those they will encounter in the
community.
http://www.sjfamilyshelter.org/
Family Supportive Housing (FSH) Infirmary Project -
FSH operates a
shelter for homeless families in a converted San Jose warehouse and is
the only shelter that serves intact homeless families. Next door, on
the same property, a new 94 unit affordable housing complex is under
construction. When completed, it will provide client families with a
seamless transition from temorary housing to affordable rental housing.
A key component is good health. To this end, the St. Joseph Commandery
is supporting construction of a new on-site infirmary, which will serve
all FSH clients.
http://www.vmcfoundation.org/pubs/VMCF_031111.pdf
The 2009-2010 recipients were:
The Alzheimer's Center (provides daycare and respite to affected elders, family support, community education)
Funds paid for a needed remodel project, including a new roof, new air conditioning system, painting and other upgrades.
Services for Brain Injury (SBI) (critical services for individuals with brain injuries, including many new veterans)
The Commandery gift supported buildout of a new physical and recreational therapy department.
Paws for Purple Hearts (training
program for veterans hospitalized suffering from PTSD, teaches
them how to train service dogs for deployment to veterans with
substantial mobility impairments)
The Commandery's charitable donation enabled refurbishment of the dormitory and training center.
Prior beneficiaries of the St. Joseph Commandery's efforts include:
Camp Okizu, Sierra Foothills
EHC - Sobrato House
Family & Children Services
Hometel at Veterans Affairs Hospital, Palo Alto
Hospice of the Valley
Meals on Wheels, Menlo Park
Nicki and Joe Parisi House on the Hill, San Jose
Project Clean Sate at Valley Medical Center
San Jose Conservation Corps & Charter School (SJCC)
San Juan Bautista Child Development Center, San Jose
THE WESTERN MILITARY COMMANDERY
The Western Military Commandery has focused its support on Armed Forces and Military Veteran-related charities, including:
Veterans Home of California in Yountville .
Veterans Administration Hospital "Hometel" facility,Palo Alto
"Semper Fi Fund" (which provides financial support for the families of
wounded and injured Marines and other members of the armed services)
"Paws for Purple Hearts" Program
|
THE ALMONER Newsletter
(10 YEAR HISTORY OF OUR PHILANTHROPIES)
For
a complete ten year history of the Philanthropies of The Grand
Priory of the Americas, please download the PDF formatted version of
the Fall 2008 edition of The Almoner newsletter. This newsletter also includes the names of the past recipients of our Humanitarian Award
established in 1995 to recognize those members who had singularly
distinguished themselves through service or other significant
philanthropic activities. The award is a small bronze cast statue of
St. Francis of Assisi modeled after the actual Benjamin Bufano statue
which was permantly placed by our Sovereign Order within the inside
entrance of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
