Masonic Life Network

The Inland Empire Public Schools Advisory Council (IEPSAC) in Division 8, presented a program to kickoff Public Schools Month in California, at San Jacinto Elementary School, in San Jacinto, California. The members of the IEPSAC are:  Manny Blanco, Chair from Evergreen Lodge #259, Eric Bordner, San Bernardino Lodge #178, Dennis Brandt, Temescal Palms Lodge #314, Randy Freeman, San Diego Lodge #35, Jim Ridley, San Jacinto Lodge #338, Mike Sekera, Temecula Catalina Island Lodge No. 524 and Lee Whelan, Riverside Lodge #635.

Many school officials, students, parents and members of our Masonic family were in attendance. Some of those that represented our Division were, Frank Lee AGL of Division 8, Russ Baldauf Inspector of District #826, John Channon Inspector of District #822, Aaron Faibanks Master of Hemet Lodge #615, Luther Woods Master of Palm Springs Lodge #693 and the IEPSAC committee members. Candler Gibson, from the Grand Lodge Philanthropy office and Russell E. Charvonia, Junior Grand Warden who spoke on behalf of the Grand Lodge of California.  Jessica Leon, Past Worthy Advisor from Foothills of Heaven Assembly, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls was in attendance from our youth groups.

Many of the visitors that were present were treated to tours of the school’s new library and the campus, which were lead by pairs of 5^th grade students.  During the program Russ Charvonia introduced three students from our Division, that will be receiving Investment in Success Scholarship, that are four year scholarships that are for $7,000.00 each.  Students that received the scholarships were Jamie Back, San Jacinto High School, Celeste De Los Santos, Perris High School and Kristoffer LaMantain, La Sierra High School.   He also presented the principal with a larger than life check, in the amount of $66,000.00, which represented the monetary commitment Grand Lodge has for the Inland Empire in scholarships and funding “Raising A Reader” in fifteen classrooms.

Congratulations to the scholarship recipients and the IEPSAC committee for a tremendous experience at the school.  The Division sends its sincere thanks Candler Gibson and Russ Charvonia for representing Grand Lodge at this important event. This was a fantastic start of our partnership for “Raising A Reader” this year.