As a fraternal benefit society
we encourage our membership, through their local assemblies
and regions, to gather together and participate in charitable
(non-profit) projects that will benefit not only our own, but
more importantly others in the community.
Our members have joined in walk-a-thons,
bake sales, dinners, carnivals, picnics, etc. to raise funding
and give support for numerous projects.
The funds that are
collected are matched $1.00 for $1.00 by the NSS, up to a
maximum of $400 per event. Each region or assembly is
allowed only one (1) event per year.
The National Assembly
in 1997-1998 designated two national Matching Fund projects
in the Slovak Republic. The Evangelical (Lutheran) Seminary
in Bratislava and the Roman Catholic Orphanage in Ruzomberok.
Over $25,000 was collected for the orphanage and $10,000 for
the seminary.
In 1998, twenty-one
assemblies and regions, through nineteen projects raised $22,726
of which the Society matched $6,925 for a total of $29,651.
In 1999, twenty
assemblies and regions, through seventeen projects, raised
$23,280 of which the Society matched $5,850 for a total of
$29,130.
In 2000, twenty-five
assemblies and regions, conducted twenty-three projects that
raised $26,445 of which the Society matched $7,094 for a total
of $33,539.
In 2001-2002 the
Society established a "Flight 93" Matching Fund Program to
give $500.00 annuities to each of the twenty-two children
that were orphaned by the death of a parent from the crash
of United Flight 93 in Shanksville, PA. The Fund was established
as our response to the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
In 2003, the NSS
conducted a "Matching Fund" Program for Habitat For Humanity
International the Slovak Republic. The HHI program was to
build homes for the Roma community in Svinia near Kocise,
in Eastern Slovakia. About $1,500.00 was raised for the project.
In 2004, the NSS
made a commitment to the Lutheran Theological Seminary in
Philadelphia of $15,000 for their new Archive Center that
will house and maintain Slovak books, periodicals, artifacts,
etc.
In 2005, the Society
established a "Matching Fund" Program for the victims
of hurricanes Rita, Katrina, and Wilma. An initial donation
of $10,000 was made with $5,000 going to the American Red
Cross and $5,000 to the Salvation Army.
