Fraternal Order of Eagles Charity Foundation and Circle of Life

The Charity Foundation was organized to combine the many health care related funds, children’s charity funds and general undesignated donations in order to streamline administrative expenses and make giving easier. Contributions for all the Charity Foundation funds can be made via a single check for better administrative management for local aeries and auxiliaries.

The Circle of Life program offers an opportunity for every member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles to directly participate in and support “People Helping People” programs.

The Circle of Life program was added in 2005 to answer the need of many members who fully believe in the Eagles, but may not have the opportunity to participate in the many activities held to raise funds for charity. Each member is eligible to be a Circle of Life patron by contributing a donation directly to the Charity Foundation. The member will then receive a sticker to attach to their dues receipt designating the member as a Circle of Life patron. States and provinces receive credit for the individual contributions towards their annual contributions. The Circle of Life money proceeds as well as undesignated contributions will be used to fund the humanitarian programs for which the Fraternal Order of Eagles is so well known. 

Each year at the Grand Aerie International Convention, Regional Conferences and special events such as the institution of new aeries and auxiliaries, grants will be made to local communities. These grants are funded by the money provided from local aeries and auxiliaries. Once these grants are funded, the remaining money is available to those states/provinces for grants. The goal of the Circle of Life and undesignated donations is to fund 100 percent of the Grand Aerie International Convention, Regional Convention and new institution grants. Once this goal is reached, 100 percent of funds contributed by the states/provinces will be available to the states and provinces as grants.

Max Baer Heart Fund 

Max Baer was a former heavyweight boxing champion and an active member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Known for his big heart and colorful sense of humor, Max was well loved by his fellow Eagles. When Max died of a heart attack in 1959, the Eagles created a charity fund as a tribute to his memory and as a means of combating the disease that killed him.

According to the American Heart Association, more than 71 million Americans are affected with heart disease.

The Max Baer Heart Fund’s primary purpose is to aid in heart research and education. Since the fund started in 1959, millions of dollars have been donated to universities, medical centers and hospitals across the United States and Canada for heart research and education.

Early diagnosis of heart disease is very important and can determine quality of life. Local aerie and auxiliaries sponsor free public CPR classes, blood pressure checks and blood sugar screenings, administered by licensed instructors. After sponsoring a CPR class, the local aerie/auxiliary can apply to give a grant to their local emergency response team to purchase life saving equipment and technology.

Robert W. Hansen Diabetes Fund

There are approximately 20.8 million children and adults in the United States who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed, there are another 6.2 million that are unaware they have the disease.

The Robert W. Hansen Diabetes fund, named for the former two-time Grand Worthy President, was incorporated into the Max Baer Heart Fund in 1978 when research confirmed that diabetes is associated with heart problems. The goal of this fund was and still is, finding a cure for this long time killer.

One hundred percent of the money raised is spent on research, equipment, education, and CPR or drug awareness.

Art Ehrmann Cancer Fund

Art Ehrmann served as the first director of the Eagle’s Cancer Fund, founded in November 1959, and as editor of Eagle Publications for 25 years. Art died of cancer and in his memory the Eagle’s Cancer Fund was renamed the Art Ehrmann Cancer Fund.

Since the fund’s inception, the Fraternal Order of Eagles have donated more than $50 million to cancer research.

Since the fund began in 1959, millions of dollars have been granted to various institutions for research and related projects. Although the cancer death rate continues to decline, continual research is essential. The National Cancer Institute reported in 2006 that 564,830 Americans were expected to die of cancer — more than 1,500 per day. In addition to research, early cancer detection and education are areas that the charitable Eagle dollars have a direct impact.

D.D. Dunlap Kidney Fund

The D.D. Dunlap Kidney Fund was established at the 1978 Fraternal Order of Eagles International Convention in Spokane, Washington. Its purpose is to raise funds for grants to universities, hospitals and other institutions involved in kidney research and related projects. All money raised goes directly for research. Through the years, millions of dollars have been raised for the D.D. Dunlap Kidney Fund. Millions have also been granted to various hospitals and medical centers for research programs.

Jimmy Durante Children’s Fund

Money raised through the Jimmy Durante Children’s Fund and Child Abuse Fund are one of the Eagle’s greatest achievements.

The fund was named in honor of Jimmy Durante, one of the Eagle’s most beloved human beings and an active life-member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Jimmy entertained without charge at fourteen consecutive Grand Aerie International Conventions and at many other Eagle gatherings until his death in 1980. Because of Jimmy’s gentle and kind manner, the children’s fund was named after him in 1966.

All money raised for the Jimmy Durante Children’s Fund or Child Abuse Fund is returned to that state or province in the form of grants to children-helping organizations of the state’s choosing. The selection of the recipients is up to the State Aerie President, with the approval of the State Executive Board utilizing the money available in the state’s account.

Children’s Aids Awareness and Medical Research

Nearly 10,000 children under age 13 are currently living with HIV in North America.

The Fraternal Order of Eagles will pursue a mission to increase the amount of available information for at risk families and educate young people as to the dangers of the AIDS virus. Donations will also be set aside for medical research for this terrible disease.

Lew Reed Spinal Cord Injury Fund

The Grand Aerie charity benefiting those crippled by spinal cord injuries is named in honor of Past Grand Worthy President Lewis Reed.

Automobile accidents are the greatest cause of spinal cord injuries.

The Lew Reed Spinal Cord Injury Fund is dedicated to improving the quality of life for hundreds of thousands of Americans living with the results of spinal cord injury and disease (SCI/D) and their families.

This fund has partnered with the National Spinal Cord Injury Association to provide funds for research, and to develop and evaluate new ways of assisting middle-aged and older persons living with the long-term effects of SCI/D.

Golden Eagle, Alzheimer and Parkinson Funds

In the early 1970s the Eagles took to heart the statistics of the fast-growing ranks of the elderly, thus the National Golden Eagle Fund was founded. The fund quickly became the only senior-oriented fundraising program. Since that time, donations to the National Golden Eagle Fund have provided $1,000 grants to charitable organizations for community-oriented programs primarily serving the aged.

Golden Age Grants

Aeries and auxiliaries can request Golden Age Grants for those organizations benefiting the community’s aged. By 2006, more than 2,097 grants have been made. (Does not include larger grants made at Grand Aerie International Conventions). The National Golden Eagle Fund is approaching $4 million in donations received.

Alzheimer and Parkinson Funds

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a brain disorder that seriously affects a person’s ability to carry out daily activities.

In addition to funds raised by the aeries and auxiliaries for Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease, the Charity Foundation provides grants for research each year to institutions and hospitals for Alzheimer and Parkinson research projects.

 

Disaster Relief Fund

The approval to make Past Grand Worthy President John Potter’s special project for the 2007-2008 year an official charity of the Fraternal Order of Eagles was approved by the voting delegation of the 2008 Grand Aerie International Convention in Louisville, KY. The fund is designed to develop and financially support a first response program for national disaster situations in Canada and the United States.

As the program grows, the desire is to host a fleet of trailers throughout the countries equipped with basic emergency needs — water, first aid supplies, food, etc. for distribution at the emergency site. The semis will be fully funded and managed by Eagle Members. All semi trailers will be clearly marked The Fraternal Order of Eagles Disaster Relief Fund and a network of member volunteer commercial drivers and service volunteers will be established to support in the response of a national disaster.

The teams closest to the disaster site are charged with bringing the fully stocked trailer to the disaster site and distributing the items available for victims and others in need.

Members can support the program through the following ways:

  • Fundraise at the local aerie and auxiliary
  • Volunteer to participate in the local Emergency Management Operations as a representative of the Fraternal Order of Eagles
  • Volunteer to be a driver (current CDL required)
  • Volunteer as a member of the distribution group
  • Encourage a friend to join the program too

To learn more or request additional information, please contact disasterrelief@foe.com.

Good Search

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