Eastern Star Chapters donate funds to a wide variety of worthy charities. Some examples are: Cancer Research Project, Arthritis Fund, Heart Fund, Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Shriner's Charities, orphanages and many other charities within each Grand Jurisdiction. In the United States alone, Masonic organizations give $1.5 million a day to charity.
Youth Projects: Eastern Star gives support to young people who are members of Rainbow for Girls, Job’s Daughters, and the Order of DeMolay. These fine young people who are training themselves to be leaders are likely prospects to become valued Eastern Stars or Masons. The Order of the Eastern Star and the Masonic fraternity are highly rewarded by their support of and interest in these youth organizations.
Educational Scholarships: The Grand Chapter of Pennsylvania offers scholarships to eligible persons to continue their education. The money comes from donations made by both chapters and individuals throughout the year as well as the interest earned on an endowment fund. Any money not used in a current year is rolled into the endowment fund for the following year.
Eligibility shall be members of the Order of the Eastern Star in good standing, their children, step-children, or grandchildren. In addition, one member of each of the International Order of Rainbow for Girls in Pennsylvania, the International Job’s Daughters in Pennsylvania and the Order of the DeMolay are also eligible.
The applicant must be a full-time student pursuing a professional or commercial educational in an accredited school of higher learning. They must be enrolled in a 3 or 4 year program, or in an accredited nursing program leading to an RN degree, or in a full-time post-graduate program. Applicants who are in a course of study of at least three (3) years duration or an accredited nursing program and who have earned at least nine (9) credits in said program, with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better, and are working a full-time job of 35 hours or more and have not received a previous Eastern Star scholarship are eligible to apply. This applicant will receive only one (1) scholarship. The applicant must have completed at least one full year before applying for a scholarship, i.e. the application process can start no earlier than your sophomore year. Preference will be given to applicants in their junior and senior years. Applicants must be of good moral character and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better, with limited financial resources and willingness towards self-help. No applicant will be awarded more than two (2) scholarships.
ESTARL: (Eastern Star Training Awards for Religious Leadership) is a scholarship fund for those who are going to school for the purpose of religious training. Each state administers their own ESTARL program. Those wishing to apply for an ESTARL Scholarship should contact the Grand Secretary of the state or province in which they reside.
Eligibility shall be members of the Order of the Eastern Star in good standing, their children, step-children, or grandchildren. An applicant must have successfully completed one (1) year in an accredited school offering leadership training before applying for an ESTARL Award. The applicant must be of good moral character and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or better, and have limited financial resources and willingness toward self-help. Preference is given to juniors and seniors in college and students in Theological Seminaries. No applicant shall receive more than two (2) awards and, if an applicant who has received two (2) Educational Scholarships, they may receive one (1) ESTARL Award if enrolled full-time in a Theological Seminary.
Eastern Star Homes: Many Grand Jurisdictions have homes for their senior members. These homes range in function from full fledged “retirement homes” to organizations that provide services to those who are in need. To find out more about the services offered, contact PA Masonic Homes.