York Rite Charities

What is RARA?

Royal Arch Research Assistance (R.A.R.A.) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt foundation incorporated in the State of Kentucky in 1974. The purpose of the organization is to research and promote solutions to Central Auditory Processing Disorder or CAPD.

It is governed by a Board of Directors who are all Royal Arch Masons. The General Grand High Priest is the President. The Board Secretary receives all contributions, keeps records, and sends out receipts, certificates, and awards.

Each works with the R.A.R.A. Representatives and the Ambassadors for each state, together with the Regional Deputy General Grand High Priest to coordinate Chapter. In this way, the Grand Chapters in their Regions will be encouraged to participate publicly to demonstrate our community involvement. Through greater visibility to the public, the hope is to generate a greater commitment to this endeavor and promote Royal Arch Masonry.

There are three Regional Coordinators to provide public relations and fundraising assistance under the direction of the Executive Director.

The R.A.R.A. Board of Directors is committed to identifying and supporting those scientists who are searching for treatment regimens and eventually a cure for CAPD.

Freemasonry seeks to improve the community by improving the individual. Therefore, Councils of Cryptic Masons are found working with Lodges, Chapters, and Commanderies, giving more opportunities to improve one’s skills in leadership, public speaking, interpersonal relationships, and administration. This empowers Masons to become better leaders in their career, church, and community. Councils also work with these and other Masonic groups in community service projects to demonstrate Masonic teachings as a way of life.

The General Grand Council established the Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation to give Cryptic Masons an opportunity to turn Masonic philosophy into a living practice. Issues like diabetes, stroke, poor circulation, heart failure, wound healing, and many other diseases
share the common denominator of blood vessels, so vascular research is a vital part of treating many different kinds of illnesses.

The Knights Templar Eye Foundation, incorporated in 1956, is a charity sponsored by the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar. The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees comprised of the six elected officers of the Grand Encampment, all Past Grand Masters of the Grand Encampment, and six trustees-at-large elected from and by the membership for a term of nine years. It is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code and contributions made to the Foundation are deductible by donors.

The original mission of the Foundation was “to provide assistance to those who face loss of sight due to the need for surgical treatment without regard to race, color, creed, age, sex or national origin provided they are unable to pay or receive adequate assistance from current government agencies or similar sources and to provide funds for research in curing diseases of the eye.”

On December 31, 2010, the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc., by direction of the board, shifted the Foundation’s focus and adopted a new mission statement “to improve vision through research, education, and supporting access to care.” The Foundation now only participates in direct patient care through the Seniors Eye Care Program in partnership with EyeCare America and the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. With this change, the Foundation is benefitting untold millions in generations to come through grants that support research and education. Our research dollars have helped develop new, nonsurgical, treatments for strabismus (crossed eyes) and ophthalmologists have told us that our efforts in funding pediatric ophthalmology research have been the primary reason that there are fewer and fewer surgeries for strabismus. The Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc., annually announces its call for research grant applications. The Foundation invites eligible investigators to submit applications for pediatric ophthalmology research grants for the award period which normally runs from July 1 to June 30. From the applications received, the Scientific Advisory Committee recommends to the Trustees which requests should be funded.

Since its inception, the Foundation has expended over $168 million on research, patient care, and education. Research grants totaling in excess of $34 million have been awarded to researchers working in the fields of pediatric ophthalmology and ophthalmic genetics.

Your donations are cumulative, which means that each time you donate, the amount is added to what you have donated in the past. Therefore, you may receive awards and/or pins to reflect the level of giving you have achieved.

Donations to the RARA, CMMRF and KTEF are tax deductible.