Front row left to right: Worshipful Master of the Atlanta Masonic Lodge Kenny Cook, Atlanta Library Board members Karen Horn, Ann Hieronymus, and Library Board President Randy Brooks.  Back row left to right: Atlanta Library Board members Bill Thomas, Steve Dryer, Cheryl Renfrow, and Lori Cotton.

Masonic Grand Lodge of Illinois matches Atlanta Masons gift to library

[January 18, 2016]   LINCOLN - Atlanta Masonic Lodge 165 presented the Atlanta Public Library with a check for $300 Thursday evening.

The check was from the Masonic Grand Lodge of Illinois that matched an identical amount presented to the library last November by the local lodge. The money will be used by the library for children’s programming.

The Atlanta Masonic Lodge raises money each year through local fundraisers to benefit children’s organizations in Atlanta. The Lodge then applies to the Illinois Grand Lodge for a match. The Grand Lodge will match up to $750 from local Masonic chapters through the Grand Lodge of Illinois Masonic Charities Fund. This year the Atlanta Masonic Lodge participated in the Lincoln IGA Saturday steak and pork chop concession and the July 4th baseball games at the Atlanta baseball complex in order to raise money for their annual giving program.

Atlanta Masonic Worshipful Master of Lodge Ken Cook presented the check to Atlanta Library Board President Randy Brooks during the board’s regular meeting. “Children’s programming is a priority at the Atlanta Public Library. They are our future,” said Brooks.

The Atlanta Masonic Lodge has already begun planning fundraisers for 2016, and will select a local children’s charity in the coming months. The lodge, formed in 1855, is the oldest organization in Atlanta.

[Curtis Fox]