Since 1978, the Masons of Ohio have supported Ohio Special Olympics for many years with contributions sent to Grand Lodge for presentation, sponsoring 574 athletes. Thousands of lives have been touched with donations to this noble cause exceeding $2.75 million dollars.
Just as Ohio Freemasons are adapting to change, so is Special Olympics Ohio changing. The Annual Summer Olympics was canceled in 2020 and again in 2021, but the new “2021 Summer Games Reimagined” was introduced. The new direction is offering over 60 smaller events for local and regional chapters all across Ohio.
The Grand Master was invited to the June 27th event, hosted at the Special Olympics headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. He presented a donation of more than $80,000 dollars to Special Olympics Ohio on behalf of the members of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio in memory of RWB Michael Cecil. Mike, who passed away on March 14, 2021, was the Chairman of Grand Lodge Special Olympics Committee. At their headquarters, Special Olympics Ohio dedicated a memorial plaque in memory of Mike’s many, many years of devotion to Special Olympics Ohio and Masons across the state.
We encourage Lodges to use future funds earmarked for Special Olympics for a local Special Olympics Chapter near you. Please contact the local Special Olympics chapter or Regional Director in your area. Lodges also may choose other charitable endeavors in your local community. As the saying goes, all Masonry is local, and no one knows the community needs better than our members.
