PETERBOROUGH, ON (Aug. 1, 2023) – You couldn’t construct this story any better: a fraternity of builders helping to build abilities for life in children and youth across the region.
The irony isn’t lost on Drew Wilson, when it comes to the Masons of Peterborough District and the Masonic Foundation of Ontario recently donating $20,500 donation to Five Counties Children’s Centre. The funds will go directly to reduce wait times for children and youth by getting them access to high-demand treatment like speech and occupational therapies.
“Our donation to Five Counties’ Building Abilities For Life campaign is a natural fit,” says Wilson, the Immediate Past District Deputy Grand Master of the Masons of Peterborough District. “We are a fraternity of builders. We build better men who strive to make a better world. It only makes sense then to support Five Counties programs that build better lives for children and families in our District.”
Donating to Five Counties is a natural in other ways too, Wilson adds. Many local Masons – himself included – know or have had their own children benefit from treatment at Five Counties. The funds being given to Five Counties will also assist children and families in all of the communities within the Peterborough Masonic District.
Local Masons have been raising money for Five Counties over the past couple of years through various events and personal donations from both Masons and non-Masons. This donation by Peterborough District Masons follows one made by the Norwood Masonic Lodge last year.
“We greatly appreciate the generosity of Masons of Peterborough District and the Masonic Foundation of Ontario,” says Lyn Giles, Director of Fund Development with Five Counties. “Building compassion, kindness and charitable giving are all hallmarks of the Masonic Order, and now they can add building abilities for life to that list. These funds will go directly to helping more kids and youth get the speech and occupational therapies they need to succeed.”
Five Counties provides speech, physio and occupational therapies, as well as other kids’ treatment services, in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton. In 2022/23, the Centre served more than 6,200 children and youth in its region – the highest number of clients in its nearly 50-year history. For a list of programs and services, visit: www.fivecounties.on.ca.