Part 88

For this special April 2002 philanthropy issue, the Development team is pleased to welcome as our guest columnist Dr. Philip Levinson, Ph.D., Executive Director, Oregon Scottish Rite Clinics for Childhood Language Disorders.

* * *

Donor recognition has become an integral part of the Oregon Scottish Rite Clinics fund-raising efforts. Without the generosity of our donors, Oregon would not have four clinics (with two more pending) providing over 5,000 clinic visits a year. When Oregon's clinics began over 21 years ago, we thought a "thank you" card to a donor was adequate recognition. For our donors, the "thank you" card and the knowledge that they were helping children succeed must have been adequate because they continued to contribute on a regular basis. As years went by and we saw therapy helping children talk and be understood, we knew that these successes would not have occurred without the commitment of so many generous people. At this point, we decided that our donors needed more than a simple "thank you."

Our first "public" form of recognition was a lapel pin. The pin is given to individuals who donate at least $100 during our fiscal year. For donations of at least $100 in subsequent years, a pin attachment is given that indicates the number of years the donor has made this donation. Pins are awarded at Scottish Rite functions in each Valley. Non-members receive an invitation to the event. Lapel pins often prompt questions from people who see them. These inquiries provide the wearer with opportunities to talk about the Scottish Rite, Masonry, Masonic Charities, and the Oregon Scottish Rite Clinics.

Our next step involved the creation of donor recognition categories. These are: Friends ($1,000+), Sustainers ($5,000+), Patrons ($20,000+), Benefactors ($50,000+), Philanthropists ($100,000+), Founders ($500,000+), and Angels ($1,000,000+). These categories are based on cumulative donations made by a donor from the inception of the Oregon Clinics. Each Valley in Oregon has a donor recognition plaque with the names of the individuals from their Valley at the appropriate level. Donors in the first two categories receive an appropriate certificate. Donors in the remaining categories receive wall plaques. By continuing to support the Oregon Clinics, donors can achieve higher levels of recognition.

In addition to regular cash donations given over a period of time or one-time cash contributions, individuals can achieve these donor recognition levels in a variety of ways. They can establish a charitable remainder trust. Or they can participate in the Southern Jurisdiction's Pooled Income Fund or Charitable Gift Annuity program naming the Oregon Scottish Rite Foundation for Childhood Language Disorders as the beneficiary. The value of the trust, annuity, or deposit to the pooled income fund determines the recognition level.

Recently, the Oregon Foundation for Childhood Language Disorders established a "Bequest Society." To join this group, individuals must name the Foundation as a beneficiary for any percentage of their estate. Members will receive an appropriate memento, and, if they desire, have their name(s) engraved on a permanent plaque in the Scottish Rite Center in their Valley.

In addition, from time to time, we reprint Scottish Rite Journal articles on planned giving in the Oregon SRFCLD News. These reprinted articles have generated interest in the Scottish Rite Gift Annuity Program and have resulted in gifts being made to benefit our Oregon Foundation. Also, any gift made to our local Foundation of $10,000 or more is recognized at the House of the Temple, in Washington, D.C., with a bronze nameplate and recognition in the Gold Book of Recognition.

The Foundation has gone beyond a simple "thank you." Are our donors "shopping" for public recognition? They are not! They give to enable Anthony to read his first book to Bret and to allow Bret, a child with autism, to be able to sit and listen. (See photo above.) They are brightening futures for children. They are realizing that they have made a significant and positive difference in the life of a child, making it possible for that child to talk, to be understood, and to be successful.

Dr. Philip Levinson is a Vietnam Veteran and a Ph.D. in Speech Pathology from the University of Washington. He taught at California State University from 1973 to 1975 and was Director of Training in Communicative Disorders, University Affiliated Program, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, from 1975 to 1980, and, for the past 20 years, Executive Director Oregon Scottish Rite Clinics for Childhood Language Disorders. He is a Past President, Oregon Speech, Language, and Hearing Association; Honors recipient of the Oregon Speech, Language, and Hearing Association; and a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

To learn more about the Scottish Rite Pooled Income Fund, click here. For a chart illustrating Scottish Rite Foundation, S.J., USA, Charitable Gift Annuity Rates–Single Life, please click here.

Scottish Rite Foundations, Southern Jurisdiction Pledge Form

At this time, we are unable to accept these pledges over the Internet.
Please print out and mail in the form below. Thank you.

Scottish Rite Foundations, Southern Jurisdiction Pledge Agreement

If you do not have Adobe® Acrobat® Reader™, you can download it for free by clicking here.

Ill. Thomas M. Boles, 33°, G.C. (left in photo) has worked extensively in fund-raising for children's programs throughout our Fraternity. For more information on planned giving, call Bro. Tom at 562–691–4227 (Fax 562–691–5327) or the Scottish Rite Foundation, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A., at 202–232–3579, ext. 143. Ill. Earl E. Ihle, Jr., 33°, is our development team's Director of Major Gifts. He has been a member of the Fraternity for 25 years and served in 1978 as Master of Lafayette Lodge, No. 111, Baltimore, Maryland. He is also a member of Boumi Shrine Temple in Baltimore, the York Rite, and a dual member of the Scottish Rite Valleys of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. You can reach Bro. Ihle toll free at 1–800–486–3331, ext. 143.