Billings Montana Scottish Rite Philanthropies

The Billings Montana Scottish Rite has two programs and also annual Gala.

RiteCare

❂ RiteCare Scottish Rite Childhood Language Program

The Scottish Rite Masonic Foundation funds and supports three language learning disabilities and dyslexia clinics in North Carolina. It is through the generous support of our members, sponsors and the general public, that children can seek help to overcome their language-learning disability and or dyslexia.

The History of the Scottish Rite's RiteCare Program

In the early 1950s in Colorado, the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States initiated a program to help children with speech and language disorders. The results obtained from this program led to the establishment of RiteCare Scottish Rite Childhood Language Program (SRCLP) clinics to provide diagnostic evaluation and treatment of speech and language disorders, as well as learning disabilities.

Today, there are SRCLP clinics, centers, and special programs operating or planned for children and therapists located throughout the United States. Each facility is staffed by speech-language pathologists or other trained personnel. Through the support of Scottish Rite members, these clinics, centers, and programs continue to increase.

The value of this philanthropy has long been apparent. Tens of thousands of youngsters across the United States have been helped significantly. With the good work of dedicated clinicians and parents, the Scottish Rite has achieved successes that could only be imagined a few years back. Children who might have remained educationally behind for a lifetime can now talk, read, and lead productive lives.

Funding for the SRCLP provided by the Scottish Rite Foundation, Southern Jurisdiction, USA, Inc., and local Scottish Rite Foundations
**We currently are updating our online directory of clinics, if you need assistance locating a facility in the meantime, please contact us at council@scottishrite.org or call 202–232–3579 (M–Th., 7 am to 5 pm ET).**

Program Eligibility

As a rule, the SRCLP Clinics accept preschool children who have difficulty speaking or understanding the spoken word or school-age children who have difficulty learning to read. Some centers also offer literacy training for adults.

Inquiries on age groups and program offerings in specific areas should be addressed to the director of the local Scottish Rite facility. Equally important, all services are available regardless of race, creed, or the family's inability to pay.

While all children in need are eligible for available SRCLP treatment, please consult with your local facility for specific financial information.

COURTESY VAN

PC Moran 32° KCCH, Coordinator

In the spring of 1993, the Scottish Rite in Billings started the Transportation of Cancer Patients to and from the Cancer Center. Brother William Alexander 32° brought the need for the service to the attention of the Lodge members when he was taking treatment at the Cancer Center. The Scottish Rite took hold of this need for transportation and has been a wonderful service to the Cancer Patients, Community and Scottish Rite, The Program is presently on it's fifth van. At the present time there are eleven volunteers who donate their time for the program. Over the past 30 years, the volunteers have driven over 500,000 miles and logged over 40,000 hours of driving time.

The ANNUAL SHOES for KIDS

The Program is for kids under the age of 18. The Program is designed to supply footwear for children in need. However, no child is turned away from receiving a new pair of shoes at either the Fall or Spring fittings.

The Billings Scottish Rite Shoe Program was started in 1994, thanks to the generosity of the late Brother Clarence Sports- man 33°, Past Grand Master of Montana. To date 50,000 pairs of shoes and 96,000 pairs of socks have been distributed. The following locations are distribution points for the program is mainly directly from our facilities. There are a few Lodges that we work with who identify a child in need in which case we ship the needed shoes to that Lodge for distribution.

The shoes are mostly sneakers and are purchased from locally at the Shoe Carnival. The purchasing and distribution is under the leadership of Bro Ronny Aasterud, 32° KCCH.

The ANNUAL COOKIE JAR AUCTION

❂ Appendant Bodies Achievement Grants

he Scottish Rite Foundation, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A., Inc. (SRF), will award several grants each year to deserving applicants from recognized Masonic appendant bodies. Applicants may be for programs at the national, state and local level. Funding for the grants is provided by the SRF. All grants must be utilized for qualifying 501(c)(3) programs.
The Achievement Grant program was created out of a belief that our appendant bodies play a key role in the future of our fraternity. Through this partnership, grants will be provided to support appendant bodies in critical areas. Our goal is to assist these groups by providing funding for worthwhile programs that could not be undertaken without financial assistance.
Grants awarded in the inaugural year will range from $1,000–$10,000. The number and amount of grants awarded will be determined by the SRF on an annual basis. Grants are non-renewable.
Click here for the Eligibility & Submission requirements for all Appendant Bodies Achievement Grants.

❂ Masonic Youth Performance Grants

he Performance Grant program was created out of a belief that our Masonic youth play a key role in the future of both our nation and our fraternity. Through this partnership, grants will be provided to support Masonic youth organizations in critical areas. Our goal is to assist these groups by providing funding for worthwhile programs that could not be undertaken without financial assistance.
Grants will be awarded in the inaugural year from $1,000–$10,000. The number and amount of grants awarded will be determined by the SRF on an annual basis.
Click here for the Eligibility & Submission requirements for all Masonic Youth Performance Grants.

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