✦ Service & Compassion

First Lady Projects

Supporting meaningful initiatives that extend compassion and care to our community and beyond

First Lady Projects

A legacy of compassion and service.

Our Tradition

Each year, the First Lady presents a project to the Nobility through the Buildings and Grounds Chair for approval. Once approved, she solicits donations to fund the project. Fundraising efforts have included the sale of T-shirts, jewelry, cookbooks, coffee table books, scarves, and booths at Christmas at Alee, as well as concessions at the Haunted House. All funds raised are dedicated exclusively to the approved project.

Christmas at Alee began in 2015 under First Lady Cheri Johns as a two-day arts and crafts event. Although the event could not be held in 2020 due to COVID-19, each succeeding First Lady continued the tradition, with Lady Marlene Armstrong coordinating the event for many years.

Projects Completed

Past First Lady Projects

A look back at the projects supported by our First Ladies over the years.

2025 Sheila Fries

Upgrade Ballroom Speaker System

First Lady Sheila Fries raised funds and received donations from various Units and Clubs to upgrade the Ballroom speaker system.

2024 Julie Hodges

Spray Foam Woody Hodges Building and Buy Furniture

First Lady Julie Hodges raised funds to spray-foam-insulate the Woody Dyches Building and to purchase additional tables for the facility.

2023 Cookie Moore

Patio Fans and Ceiling

Lady Cookie Moore used funds from her First Lady’s Project to place fans under the patio and finish the ceiling. Creating a beautiful area.

2022 Donna McCutchen

Foyer and Hallway Floor Renovation

First Lady Donna McCutchen donated funds towards the completion. The Effingham Shrine Club donated funds to renovate the foyer and hallway floors. Noble Bobby Sauls completed the project, and the floors transformed from a tired floor in the Ballroom to the beautiful floors they are currently.

2021 Colleen Humphries

Dance Floor and Ballroom Renovation

First Lady Colleen Humphries raised funds for her First Lady’s Project to renovate the dance floor and the bar area in the ballroom. The Nobility voted to finish the remainder of the Ballroom floor and 2022 First Lady Donna McCutchen donated funds towards the completion. The Effingham Shrine Club donated funds to renovate the foyer and hallway floors. Noble Bobby Sauls completed the project, and the floors transformed from a tired floor in the Ballroom to the beautiful floors they are currently.

2020 Laura Grayson

Ladies' Room Renovation and Woody Dyches Furniture

First Lady Laura Grayson wanted to renovate the ladies’ restrooms in the Ballroom. Many donations of time and talent were used to update the restroom with touchless toilets and faucets with a new paint job and ceiling grid, the restrooms were beautiful. She also purchased some tables and lights for Woody Dyches. Unfortunately, COVID hit, and Christmas at Alee had to be canceled. This did not stop the renovations or stop her from raising donations. She set up a concession stand at the Haunted House to raise money.

2019 Tonda Donaldson

Woody Dyches Renovation

First Lady Tonda Donaldson utilized the funds raised at Christmas at Alee for the Woody Dyches renovation.

2018 LeAnne Bowie

Update Sound System

First Lady LeAnne Bowie generated funds to update the sound system in the Arena and under the patio. This update is state-of-the-art too.

2017 Mickey Robbins

Update the Lighting Controls in the Ballroom

2017, First Lady Mickey Robbins joined donations with First Lady Marlene Armstrong to generate enough funds to completely update the lighting controls with a state-of-the-art program to control all the lights in the Ballroom on one panel.

2016 Marlene Armstrong

Update the Lighting Controls in the Ballroom

First Lady Marlene Armstrong took over as Chair for the Christmas at Alee project for the next many years. She joined donations with First Lady Mickey Robbins to generate enough funds to completely update the lighting controls with a state-of-the-art program to control all the lights in the Ballroom on one panel.

2015 Cheri Johns

Christmas at Alee Project

First Lady Cheri began the Christmas at Alee Project to raise funds for additional Screens and projectors in the Ballroom. The successful Christmas at Alee Project was an effort to involve the community and expose the good works of Alee Shriners to others. The project involved the Divan, Divan ladies, and countless others for a job well done.Christmas at Alee was a fun two-day event selling arts and crafts. We could not hold the event in 2020 due to Covid. Each First Lady continued the event, but had Lady Marlene Armstrong coordinate it.

2014 Sandy Brewer

Install an Audio-Visual Screen and Equipment

First Lady Sandy Brewer received donations to install an audio-visual screen and equipment in Bill Porter’s Room and a TV in the Divan Office.

2013 Pat Cooper

Renovated the Alee Temple Office

First Lady Pat Cooper renovated the Alee Temple Office with fresh paint and carpet. In addition, she raised money to complete the Fez cases in the foyer, displaying Alee Unit and Club Fezzes

2012 Tina Stanley

Morris Slotin Fund

First Lady Tina Stanley made donations to the Morris Slotin Fund

2010 Linda Davis

Gas logs in the Woody Dyches Building.

First Lady Linda Davis generated donations to replace the gas logs in the Woody Dyches Building.