Community Impact Report As a not-for-profit organization, and as part of our Mission of Love, Masonic Villages extends services to surrounding communities and individuals of all ages. While many efforts were placed on hold or modified in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff and residents were still able to impact neighbors and local organizations through donations of time, money and expertise, as well as items such as fresh produce and knit hats. The Masonic Villages proudly provided $34.6 million of charitable care and services across Pennsylvania in 2020. This amount consists of approximately $9.9 million (at cost) of free care and services and $24.7 million (at cost) for care and services above the amount reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid and other third party payers. In addition, Masonic Villages provided more than $410,532 in scholarships, donations to local emergency services providers, internships and community assistance to our neighbors in Dallas, Elizabethtown, Lafayette Hill, Sewickley and Warminster. Community Engagement and Support Masonic Villages works with other organizations to help fulfill needs in the community, some of which also benefit our residents. Many of our programs with local schools and organizations in need of meeting space were postponed in 2020, and we look forward to re-engaging safely with these groups soon. To benefit Elizabethtown Community Housing and Outreach Services (ECHOS), which runs a winter shelter 20
Summer 2021 Issue
Elizabethtown resident Nancy Balmer, shown with Pastor Preston Van Deursen, director of spirtiual care, knitted 70 hats, which she donated to Sell Chapel’s Outreach program. The hats were shared with the Christmas Shop, run through the Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church and ECHOS.
at St. Paul’s Methodist Church for those with emergency living needs, Masonic Village at Elizabethtown’s environmental services department washed 3,475 pounds of sheets, blankets, comforters and towels free of charge, donating staff time valued at approximately $2,015. In early 2020, eight fourth grade classes, or about 120 students, from Milton Hershey School worked with six Masonic Village at Elizabethtown residents on a project using a process called “design thinking” to create assistive devices that older adults may find useful. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the project, and both groups look forward to connecting on future projects. Business and Economic Support As a not-for-profit organization, Masonic Villages is not required
to pay real estate taxes; however, we value municipalities’ services and understand their plights, as costs impact local taxes. Through Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreements signed in Dallas, Elizabethtown, Lafayette Hill and Sewickley, we paid $2,232,396 to local boroughs, townships, counties and school districts in 2020. Supporting the local economy is also a priority. Through contracts with 356 businesses in the Dallas, Elizabethtown, Lafayette Hill and Sewickley areas, Masonic Villages purchased approximately $4.86 million of products and services. Masonic Village at Elizabethtown was named a 2020 Exceptional Business Partner for supporting Goodwill Keystone Area’s mission. Through Goodwill’s employment services, environmental services staff spent
