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On September 25, 2021, the Minnesota Masonic Charities held its 16th Annual Gala at the Heritage Center-Evergreen Hall in Bloomington, Minnesota. In the past this this event has been held at the Landmark Event Center at the Minnesota Masonic Home. Due to COVID-19 and necessary precautions to protect the Masonic home residents who reside in the Elder Service wing, this necessitated a change in venue.
The Heritage Center is a wonderful place filled with many
Masonic items which created a welcoming atmosphere for the 180 guests in
attendance.
For those of you who are not aware, the purpose of the
Minnesota Masonic Charities Gala is to gather Masons and guests for a social
occasion once a year. It is an
opportunity for everyone to dress up, enjoy socializing with old and new
friends while enjoying an evening of drinks, dinner, and conversation while
raising money for wonderful causes supported by Masonic Charities.
My favorite part of the evening was the after-dinner
program. The speaker was introduced by Masonic Charities President and CEO,
Eric Neetenbeck. Eric announced that the
Minnesota Masonic Charities has made a gift of thirty-five million dollars to
the University of Minnesota for the purpose of establishing the Masonic
Institute for the Developing Brain. This will be “an interdisciplinary
initiative focused on the early diagnosis and treatment of the
neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and adolescence.” This is cutting edge stuff folks.
The guest speaker was Dr. Damien Fair, the new
Co-Director for the Masonic Institute. Dr. Fair is a leading national expert in
behavioral neuroscience and brain imaging. He was very recently recruited from
the Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. Fair is originally from
Minnesota.
Dr Fair provided an overview of his prior research and
work which lead him to his current position. He also provided some insight on
why he recently chose the University of Minnesota for his future work, while
recruited by several universities. He
gave all in attendance, a glimpse of the interdisciplinary work and research
that will occur at the new Center. This
will be a “one stop shop” for children and families. He also noted that he will
enter the new building for the first time in the coming week, which was made
possible by Minnesota Masonic Charities.
In closing, Eric Neetenbeck reminded all attendees of the
good causes supported in the past and all the worthwhile ongoing efforts
supported by Minnesota Masonic Charities which include Masonic Cancer
Center-University of Minnesota, Masonic Children’s Hospital-University of
Minnesota, Minnesota Masonic Home, the thousands of scholarships provided,
community services such as the Minnesota Masonic Home and now the Masonic
Institute for the Developing Brain.
Minnesota Masonic Charities has given one hundred
million dollars in the past ten years, and MMC is the largest contributor to
the University of Minnesota.
All of that is something for Minnesota Masons to be very proud
of and the more reason to support these wonderful endovers that impact the
lives of Minnesotans and beyond our states border.
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| President and CEO Eric Neetenbeek Minnesota Masonic Charites |
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| John Schwietz Director of Institutional Advancement MMC |
