(Cushing, Okla.) The Cushing Regional Hospital Foundation initiated a charity golf tournament in 2006. The Cushing Masonic Lodge joined the endeavor with the purpose to raise money to provide scholarships for members of the Cushing Fire Department to take courses that would elevate them to Paramedic Level. The Masonic Lodge pledged $2500 in matching funds. In addition to the matching funds, the members of the lodge donated “working hours” to help with the project. With their help, the project exceeded that amount.
Since 2006 the Masonic Lodge has continued to pledge $2500 annually as an amount to match and provided “man hours” in support of the event. And, each year the charity golf event has received the $2500 from the lodge, plus additional funds the lodge has been able to obtain through the Oklahoma Masonic Charity Foundation Matching Funds Program. In 2014 the Paramedic Scholarship Charity Golf Event received $2500 in matching funds, plus an additional amount of $2517, making a grand total of $5017 from the Cushing Masonic Lodge. Up to 2015, 10 paramedics have been trained and one more will begin in February. During the last 10 years, the Cushing Masonic Lodge has donated approximately $50,000 and countless hours of work.
Chris Pixler, 2014 Master of Cushing Lodge #111, lodge secretary Joe Manning, and members of the Cushing Masonic Lodge recently presented a check for $5017 to CRH Foundation member Pam Hawthorn and Director Marian Gilkerson. Pam Hawthorn thanked the Lodge for its continued support of the Foundation and Hillcrest Hospital Cushing.
The highly qualified paramedics are a great addition to the Cushing Fire Department and to the citizens of Cushing. It would be the desire of many to have a paramedic on the ambulance.
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