56th Voluntary Campaign

Greetings Sir Knights of the Grand Encampment
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

To my fellow Sir Knights of the Grand Encampment, I am deeply honored to be called upon once again this year to serve the Knights Templar Eye Foundation as your Chairman for the 56th Annual Voluntary Campaign. I would like to thank Sir Knight David Kussman, our Grand Master and President of the Foundation for giving me the opportunity to serve this Foundation and Templary. We owe all the Sir Knights of the Grand Encampment a sincere thank you for all the donations we received during our 55th Annual Voluntary campaign. The final tally was $2,757,418.41, and we thank every Sir Knight, their family, friends, our ladies from the Social Order of the Beauceant, the Order of the Eastern Star and all the other organizations who contributed to make it an overwhelming success.

Our foundation has come a long way from the days that Sir Knight Walter A. DeLamater was Most Eminent Grand Master of the Grand Encampment (1955-1958) and First President and Founder of the KTEF. I want you to think of the words he wrote in May of 1956. "Sir Knights, when once our Foundation is in operation you are going to be amazed at the opportunity and the great humanitarian effort that will be ours, and the demands for treatment, hospitalization, and the great need for research of diseases and injuries of the eye. It is going to be a tremendous work, and your Grand Master is convinced that when once we have started in operation and the results of those who have been aided made known, everyone who had invested the less than two cent per week requested will be very proud of being a Knight Templar and having had a part in this great work, surely in keeping with the teachings of Christ and our great Christians Order of Knighthood." If only Sir Knight DeLamater, PGM could see what his vision has done and the legacy he has left behind. The research being accomplished today is amazing. Please go on the Knight Templar Eye Foundation website (www.ktef.org) and Facebook to find all the latest news. Just a reminder we do have incentives for our Sir Knights, we have special programs for donations that include a special giving level, as well as accepting Memorial Donations, Honorary Gifts, and Trusts, Wills and Bequests. Depending on the level of your gift, with a Grand Master's Club you are eligible for the Crusaders Cross. The Foundation also offers other type of sponsorships, individual Life Sponsor, Associate Patron and Patron. Or 100% Life Sponsorship Participation award for your Commandery or Grand Commandery. Sir Knights, the Knights Templar Eye Foundation continues to do great work, and we can only continue to do those great works through your continued support. Thank you to each of you for what you do for Templary, and May God Bless You for your support in this 56th Annual Knights Templar Eye Foundation Voluntary Campaign.

Please remember what Jesus did, Matthew 20:34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. KJV

In Christ Service,

Paul W. Friend, PGC, KTCH

Chairman, 56th Annual Voluntary Campaign