Grand Master's Charities
The Grand Master, MW Steven P. Boring, has always been a staunch supporter of all forms of our youth programs. “The Youth Is Our Future” states it all. The Grand Master firmly believes that the youth are our leaders of the future and need our assistance. MW Steven P. Boring has selected the youth as his charity. The Grand Master’s Charity for the Masonic Year 2015-2016 will be used to support our Florida Masonic Youth and the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, Inc.
With this in mind, the Grand Master’s Charity this year will be designated and dedicated to our youth. Donations to the Grand Master’s Charity will be deposited into the Masonic Charities of Florida, Inc., Fund, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt charitable account, and will be used to support these two youth programs that are dedicated to education and the principles that will help build strong leaders for our future.
A separate and special account has been set up by the Grand Secretary to ensure that all donations are properly distributed to our youth and proper records maintained. Checks should be made payable to “Masonic Charities of Florida, Inc.,” with an annotation in the note line stating “Youth.”
The cornerstone and pride of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches is its nationally renown network of residential child-care campuses, an array of cottages and villas scattered throughout the state of Florida offering a stable home to needy children. By utilizing the Boys Ranch/Live Oak, Youth Villa/Bartow, Youth Ranch/Safety Harbor and Youth Ranch-Bradenton/Sarasota, the Youth Ranches trained and devoted staff are well-equipped to nurture needy, neglected boys and girls, and provide a warm sense of security, guidance and tenderness. Youth are cared for by "cottage parents," who help develop a strong work ethic, sense of responsibility, teamwork and respect in each boy and girl.
The Youth Ranches provides clinical social services to children and families by trained counselors. These services include individual and group counseling with youth to assist in resolving the personal difficulties which precipitated placement at the Ranch and attending to the ongoing adjustment to living in an out-of-home environment. Services include regular involvement with family members in preparing for successful discharge and supporting healthy post-placement family relationships. The clinical staff is one part of a strong collaborative team effort that includes cottage parents, youth care specialists, unit directors, teachers and Ranch general staff.
The Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches is active in assisting parents to be better equipped to relate to their children and other family members. Family Life Education, a key component in this process, involves parental participation in meetings, facilitated by our agency's Family Case Managers. Family Life Education meetings are a requirement for parents of youth residing in one of our agency's programs. Parents of youth awaiting placement are also invited to attend. Through utilization of a comprehensive curriculum, Family Life Education is presented on our campuses, in community settings, via parent retreat weekends, as well as in individualized home study, for those unable to attend group meetings.
The Mission of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches is to prevent delinquency and develop lawful, resilient, and productive citizens.
Source: Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches , https://www.youthranches.org/