THE ROBERTSON BENEVOLENT FUND
In the year of 1999 Rebecca Robertson, widow of Raymond Robertson, passed away in St. Clair, Missouri, leaving a large estate. The Estate was to be divided equally between the St. Clair Methodist Church, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, the Grand Lodge Odd Fellows Home and St. Louis Lodge No. 5 of which Brother Raymond was a member until his death in 1985.
The Trustees of St. Louis Lodge #5 felt the best use of the money would be to help others. This was approved by the general membership of Lodge No. 5. In the year 2002 the By Laws of Lodge No. 5 were changed to incorporate the Robertson Benevolent Fund, so named after the fund’s benefactors. The Trustees’ involved in setting up the fund were Walter R. Hetz Jr., Larry W. Sisco, the late Arthur J. Goede, Kenneth C. Vaughn and Robert J. Mayer Sr. The Trustees of Lodge No. 5 are the administrators of the fund. The Fund receives its income from investments made by the Trustees which we hope will last for a long time.
Currently we have issued 18, one-year scholarships, for $3,000.00 each and will reach our maximum of 24 next year. Scholarships are issued to those deemed in financial need who have maintained at least a 2.75 grade average. The scholarship grants are divided between the public high schools and family members from St. Louis Lodge #5. All scholarship grants are kept in strict confidence and a student may only renew them for four years maximum, one year at a time. For more information, please write to the Robertson Benevolent Fund c/o St. Louis Lodge No. 5.
Through the fund we have supported the following charities, Arthritis Foundation, Feed-My-People, James S. McDonnell U.S.O., St. Jude’s Children Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, the Salvation Army, and Marygrove Manor. From this Fund we also donated to hurricane relief through the Salvation Army and have made other donations to those individuals in need. In leaving this money the Robertson’s hoped to do good for all. We sincerely hope we have fulfilled their wishes.