Benevolent Work The benevolent work of this Order is virtually beyond compare. The annual Benevolence Report given at the Grand Lodge Convention grows steadily each year and totals hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on charity as well as many thousands of hours spent in unselfish service. For this reason alone, the Benevolent, Patriotic Order of Does justifies its existence and warrants your support and that of the community of which it is a part. Each year, the Grand Lodge Public Relations Committee selects a charitable project in which all Droves can participate. With the collective strength of all Droves, the organization can raise significant funds and in doing so, make a difference. For the past 10 years, the committee has elected to support Dogs for the Deaf. This organization does not receive any government funding and relies on private donations to provide dogs to the hearing impaired. Dogs are rescued from shelters and trained to alert hearing impaired people to sounds that they cannot hear such as, smoke alarms, telephones, tea kettles, children crying, alarm clocks, or someone calling their name etc. These dogs are trained and placed free to the recipient. For more information: http://www.dogsforthedeaf.org The Benevolent, Patriotic Order of Does also collects Campbell's labels and General Mills Box Tops for Education, in support of St. Judes Ranch for Children located at P.O. Box 60100 Boulder City, NV 89006 Phone 702-294-7154 This project is again an Organization-wide project in which each Drove collects and submits the labels and box tops collected by their community. These labels and box tops provide such items as typewriters, computers, encyclopedias and hopefully a much needed van. Go to http://www.labelsforeducation.com/eligibleproductsEN.aspx for more information. St. Judes is asking that you send ONLY the UPC codes instead of the complete label.For more information go to http://www.stjudesranch.org Student Loan The Grand Lodge established a Student Loan Fund in 1957. The fund is a revolving fund and as principal and interest are repaid, the money is returned to the original fund and is available to worthy individuals who want a higher education. The applicant must be a Doe, daughter, granddaughter, daughter-in-law, niece, son or grandson, son-in-law or nephew of a Doe. The maximum loan to a four-year student is $8,000 with $2,000 advance each year to the maximum of $8000. The amount loaned for a two-year Tech school or Junior College is $4,000 with a $2,000 advance each year to the maximum of $4,000. Interest is 4% and is due by June 30th of each year. Repayment of the Principal begins 6 months after the student graduates, or ceases to be enrolled in an accrediated institution of higher education. Payments are a minimum of $50.00 per month for the first two years. Third and fourth year payments are to be a minimum of $75.00 per month and the fifth to eighth year payments are to be a minimum of $100.00 per month. After eight years a balloon payment is required to pay off the existing loan. Many students have taken advantage of this low interest loan and have gone on to various interesting careers. As the students repay their loans, the fund continues to grow.