The Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star presented OMRF with a check for $12,446.37 at its annual conference at the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple in Guthrie on Sunday.
The donation continues the Eastern Star’s long history of generosity, totaling $308,507 since 2002 when the Grand Chapter selected OMRF as its sole charitable beneficiary.
Past donations have funded OMRF’s research on cancer, heart disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and have focused heavily on Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases.
“These diseases are near and dear to our hearts because we are getting older, and we have members who suffer from these conditions,” said Eastern Star Grand Secretary Leatrice Massey. “We feel like OMRF does great work, and we often see their research featured on TV or in the paper. It lets us feel like we play a role in these successes.”
Members of the Eastern Star support OMRF through individual donations made at chapter meetings across the state, including golf tournaments, pink ribbon luncheons, auctions, marches and other various endeavors.
“It was a treat to attend this year’s Eastern Star meeting. The organization’s rituals and the common bond shared by its members is a wonderful thing to witness,” said OMRF senior development associate Allison Parker. “The fact that the group continues to give to OMRF is absolutely wonderful, and it’s a joy to watch the group come together to support medical research in Oklahoma.”
The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world to which both men and women may belong. It counts approximately one million members worldwide and is dedicated to furthering charity, education, fraternity and science.
It has approximately 8,000 members and 95 chapters in Oklahoma, including groups in:
- Bartlesville
- Blanchard
- Broken Arrow
- Clinton
- Enid
- Guthrie
- Hennessey
- Lawton
- McAlester
- Muskogee
- Woodward
