The Oklahoma Order of the Eastern Star recently marked 20 consecutive years of giving to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation with a donation of $7,937.92. The gift brings Eastern Star’s total contributions to more than $400,000 since designating OMRF as its charitable beneficiary in 2002.
Eastern Star designated its latest donation for research in neurological conditions, heart disease and cystic fibrosis at the Oklahoma City-based nonprofit. Previous gifts have funded research on cancer, lupus, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s.
The group presented its 2021 donation to OMRF Vice President of Development Penny Voss this month during its annual conference at the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple in Guthrie.
“Eastern Star has been a dedicated and faithful partner to OMRF,” Voss said. “Each year, their gifts go directly to medical research. We are thankful for their continued support of our scientists who work every day to help more live longer, healthier lives.”
The Order of the Eastern Star, with headquarters in Washington, D.C., is a worldwide fraternal organization with chapters in 46 states and several foreign countries. It is dedicated to furthering charity, education, fraternity and science. It is part of the family of Masonry, similar to Shriners and Scottish Rite.
Eastern Star members support OMRF through individual donations and statewide events such as golf tournaments, auctions and marches, plus memorials to loved ones.
The Oklahoma chapter, established in 1909, has 6,000 members and 74 Oklahoma groups, including those in:
- Altus
- Bartlesville
- Blanchard
- Broken Arrow
- Clinton
- Durant
- Enid
- Guthrie
- Lawton
- McAlester
- Muskogee
- Owasso
- Woodward
