This CHIP program is the world’s most comprehensive child identification program and has ID’ed more than 175,000 children. The Toothprint® impression is a relatively new means of identification where the child bites down on a wafer, making a permanent, archival record of their teeth. Toothprints® were developed by Dr. David Tesini of Framingham, a pediatric dentist who developed Toothprints® as another means of identifying a child that fingerprints alone may not guarantee.

 According to the FBI’s Peter Banks and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, when a Toothprint® is taken, sufficient proteins remain in the saliva on the wafer from which a DNA test can be successfully performed for yet a second means of identification from the Toothprint®. He also stated that, since the Toothprint® wafer is sealed in a “zipper”-type plastic bag, enough scent remains for a trained dog to identify and track it.  

Masonic Child Identification programs are held periodically throughout Massachusetts and may be sponsored by any group but are generally sponsored by local Masonic Lodges as part of their community service programs. Many school officials have requested that the program be brought into the school systems in their municipalities. When you consider the frightening statistics that over 1-million children are reported missing in the United States each year, there are over 100,000 attempted abductions by non-family members for the same period, and over 3,000 Americans remain unidentified, the value of this program is enormous. 

 Freemasonry is the oldest and largest fraternal organization in the world. The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was established in 1733 and is the third oldest Grand Lodge in the world. Today, there are over 50,000 Freemasons in Massachusetts that meet in more than 275 individual Lodges in cities and towns throughout the Commonwealth. Grand Master Donald Gardner Hicks, Jr. is the latest in a succession of distinguished Massachusetts Freemasons to hold that office. Previous Grand Masters include Revolutionary War patriots Paul Revere and General Joseph Warren.

 Freemasons in North America contribute more than $2,000,000 each day to charity. Freemasons operate the Shriners Burns Hospital in Boston where more than 750 severely burned children are admitted each year and treated at no charge. Some 3,700 children are treated each year in the hospital’s clinic, again at no charge. Freemasons also operate the Shriners Orthopedic Hospital in Springfield where children are treated at no charge. Freemasons are responsible for collecting more than 80% of the blood collected by the Red Cross in Massachusetts—more than 20,000 pints annually. They also provide more than $200,000 in scholarship assistance annually.