Knights Templar Eye Foundation

As a Knight Templar, one has many opportunities to help others who are less fortunate.  One way is through the Knights Templar Eye Foundation.  The Eye Foundation is a Great Humanitarian Charity whose purpose is to provide research, surgical treatment and hospitalization to those who suffer from diseases or injury to the eyes.

Concern For Others

Since its inception, the Knights Templar Eye Foundation has spent more than $35 million dollars to help provide medical treatment for those unable to afford it.  Today, over 44,000 people have directly benefited from this financial assistance.  And as always, treatments are provided regardless of race, color, creed, age, or national origin.

Research grants, totaling over $2.5 million dollars, have been made to institutions working in the field of Eye Research.  Informative films are also available through local Commanderies for presentation to churches, PTA meetings and other interested organizations.  To its end, the Knights Templar, through the efforts of its members, is committed to "Helping Others To See."

Holy Lands Pilgrimage Program

The Grand Commandery of Indiana, in conjunction with the Grand Encampment of the United States of America, sends Christian Ministers to visit the Holy Lands. There they get to walk were Jesus walked while on Earth and visit sites mentioned in the Bible. Pictured below  is Sir Knight R. Frank Williams, Past Grand Commander of Indiana, (lower right) and one of the groups of Ministers while on their Pilgrimage.

All of the Pilgrim Ministers are recommended for the trip by a local Commandery of Knights Templar and have an established ministry. In many cases, the local Commandery will even pay for the Ministers trip. Further funding comes from the Grand Commandery itself. In all cases, the Minister does not have to pay for anything except incidentals.

Grand Encampment is planning a trip in 2011. We ask you to pray for our program and for peace.

Knights Templar Educational Foundation

"...Freedom can only exist in an Educated Society..."

How the Foundation Began

In 1922, the Grand Encampment launched the Knights Templar Educational Foundation with these words: "We feel the Grand Encampment can build no greater monument than to put into effect a plan which will provide educational advantages for the youth of our beloved Country, thereby enabling them to become more useful members of society and better citizens of this Republic."

The Foundation was sustained and perpetuated by each Sir Knight paying annually the sum of $1.00 for a period of nine years beginning July 1, 1924.  Half of the assessment was placed in the Fund for direct investment and the other half was made immediately available for student loans by allocation to the individual Divisions on the basis of their original capitalization-the 1922 membership.

How It Operates

The Educational Foundation is a Trust Fund administered by the Committee on the Educational Foundation of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar.  The national Committee supervises the loan activity among the 50 Divisions (Grand or subordinate Commanderies) which administer the funds and process loan applications.  By regulation, the Grand Recorder of the Grand Commandery is the Division's Secretary-Treasurer.

The Foundation, recognizing the need for education is essential, provides financial assistance for vocational, technical or professional training and for undergraduate (last two years) and post-graduate study in accordance with the policies conforming to the Regulations and Standard Practice of the Foundation.

The Knights Templar Education Foundations (one in each state) are autonomous in each state.  Each state has different rules and decision processes to award loans or scholarships. In Indiana, up to the year 2007, we helped needy students by providing loans up to $3,000 for each of their junior and senior years, with a maximum of $6,000.  These loans were at 5% interest and required repayment on a regular monthly basis beginning 6 months after graduation.

In 2007, Indiana Templar Education Foundation changed its loan process to a scholarship process by awarding one scholarship in the amount of $10,000 for one school year.  The scholarship was awarded to a master’s student studying for the Divinity. These scholarships will continue to be granted on an annual basis as funds are available. The scholarships are awarded to a university, in our name, located in Indianaand the school departments will determine who best qualifies for the scholarship.