York Rite Charities

Charity lies at the very foundation of Freemasonry. In the United States alone, the family of Freemasonry gives over $2 million each day to charitable causes of all kinds.

The charities of the York Rite are among the most respected both in and outside the fraternity.

Royal Arch Research Assistance

The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Oklahoma’s primary charity is Royal Arch Research Assistance; a philanthropy supported nationally by the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons International. This charity supports the Able Kids Foundation, a nonprofit organization which partners with local, national, and international organizations and corporations to provide educational, research, service and assistive devices which eliminate barriers and expand opportunities for children with central auditory processing (CAP) disabilities.

Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation

The Cryptic Masons Medical Research Foundation is an Oklahoma corporation founded in 1986 to uncover the causes of and develop cures for atherosclerosis and its complications. Listed among the most prevalent of adult diseases, atherosclerosis, or hardening of the large arteries leading to and from the heart, is a major killer. The research funded in part by Cryptic Masons promises to ultimately find a cure and thus save thousands of lives each year.

Knights Templar Eye Foundation

The mission of the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc., is 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 form current government agencies or similar sources. The foundation also provides funds for research in curing diseases of the eye and is a national co-sponsor of the Seniors EyeCare program, a public service foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. This program helps seniors over 65 years of age who do not have an Ophthalmologist.

Holy Pilgrimage Fund

The Oklahoma Holy Land Pilgrimage Fund is used to pay the expenses of sending a Minister to the Holy Land under the sponsorship of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar. Each year, the Grand Commandery of Oklahoma strives to send at least 2 Ministers to this most significant of religious places in the world.

DeMolay Leadership Workshop

The Grand Commandery annually sponsors a youth leadership workshop each January for Oklahoma DeMolays. The workshop is designed to teach leadership skills to young men ages 12 through 20 who belong to DeMolay—a youth order sponsored by Masons. The workshop includes programs, motivational speakers, adult mentors, and fun activities during a weekend retreat. At the closing banquet, the Grand Commander presents a personally engraved Knight Templar sword to the young man who has been selected as the Oklahoma DeMolay of the Year.