Welcome to the Prince Hall Shriners Foundation Website
On behalf of the Prince Hall Shriners Foundation (PHSF) Board of Directors and staff, "Welcome!" The PHSF is proud that it will be able to financially assist the Prince Hall Shriners' (PHS) three community-based initiatives: National Diabetes Initiative, Shriners as Mentors, Student Aid. We are particularly gratified to be part of PHS' 10-year collaboration with the American Diabetes Association, which is PHS' National Diabetes Initiative. As of this writing, nearly 24 million Americans have diabetes while 57 million have pre-diabetes. As a Prince Hall Shriner, these statistics are of particular importance, since African-Americans are almost twice as likely to have diabetes as members of the majority community. Yale School of Public Health found that if systems remain unchanged, by 2025 the number of people living with diabetes will double to more than 50 million--equivalent to the population of nearly 27 states. Every Prince Hall Shriner Temple will be invited to participate in a series of fundraising efforts. Monies raised will be awarded by the Foundation in the form of grants to address the increased incidence of diabetes in the PH Shriners' membership as well as communities in which PH Shriners serve through educational and awareness programs.
The Foundation will address the needs of African-American youth through a series of Prince Hall Shriners led Shriners as Mentors Programs. The programs will provide at-risk and high risk African-American male youth with a forum to improve educational deficiencies. Likewise, through the Prince Hall Shriners led Student Aid program, the Foundation will address the needs of low-income students who have achieved academic success in high school and require financial assistance for college or trade school. The timeless slogan "A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste" is never more important today as millions of African-American male youth are caught up in a downward spiraling cycle of hopelessness - with a high percentage leading to incarceration or worst.
We need every Prince Hall Shriner's help in raising funds to support these initiatives. I am personally asking for your commitment and support. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Oliver Washington, Jr.
Oliver Washington, Jr.
President, Prince Hall Shriners Foundation