“The members of the Sam Schloss lodge truly embody the spirit of giving,” said B’nai B’rith International President Moishe Smith. “They are tirelessly dedicated to helping both their immediate community and the greater world.”

The Memphis lodge is among the oldest of B’nai B’rith’s lodges still in operation, and it’s the second largest of the original B’nai B’rith lodges.

One of the most popular programs the lodge undertakes each year is the Care Bear project, which provides teddy bears to several child agencies in Memphis, including the Memphis Child Advocate Center, which works with abused children, the Jewish Family Service of Memphis, and the Harwood Center for Developmentally Delayed Children. The bears become trusted companions for children facing difficult health and family situations. “The care bear program is something that touches all of us,” said Joel Turetzky, lodge vice president. “We are so grateful to be able to bring just a small bit of comfort to children in need.”

Each month, the lodge also hosts a men's luncheon at the Memphis Jewish Home and Rehabilitation Center and calls Bingo.

Members have recently launched a prostate cancer awareness program in the area. Baptist Hospital provided prostate cancer screenings, several cancer survivors spoke, and a urologist described the latest treatments and the need for early detection. This educational program was open to the community at large.

“Soon after there was a B’nai B’rith International, there was a Sam Schloss lodge,” said Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin, who will be a featured speaker at the gala dinner. “This lodge is a testament to the power of community service. B’nai B’rith could not exist without the dedication of people like the members of the Sam Schloss lodge. It will be an honor to recognize their remarkable longevity.”