Our Membership Supports

Scottish Rite Masons support several charitable programs for a variety of groups and organizations.  In 2020, Scottish Rite Masons in Omaha donated:

The RiteCare Speech and Language Clinic, located at the UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute, is underwritten by Nebraska's Scottish Rite Masons. Omaha Scottish Rite Masons donated $103,372 toward RiteCare services, with major financial support also coming from Scottish Rite Masons in Lincoln, Hastings, Alliance and from Scottish Rite Masons throughout Nebraska. Our total 2020 budget is $750,000 for 2020 RiteCare services, covered through the philanthropic generosity of Nebraska Scottish Rite Masons.

Money supports therapy and education by Speech-Language Pathologists, who help children communicate.  Some Youth from 3-years of age up have difficulties communicating with family and their peers.  The RiteCare Clinicians work with these young children individually or in groups. They learn to speak well enough to become a part of the mainstream at school and in the community, and children go on to lead a healthy childhood as a lifelong learner..  It is estimated that for every $1,000 spent at this level up to $10,000 will be save later for special education classes or altercations with authorities.  Just one session costs Scottish Rite Mason approximately $101 for each child served.  Scottish Rite Masons understand that being able to communicate is one of the most important things in a person’s life and they have been supporting this ideal for forty years in Nebraska! We are proud that these services have been offered at no cost to families, who may not otherwise be able to pay for speech-language therapy.

Masons Endowed a Scottish Rite Professorship at the UNMC Munroe-Meyer Institute.  Scottish Rite Masons believe research and education are critical toward the mission of the RiteCare Language Clinics.  In 2018, Nebraska Scottish Rite Masons endowed a professorship in Speech-Language Pathology, supporting research and education in areas including Apraxia, a condition where a child knows what he wants to say but can’t form the words or sentence.  This is just one of the research projects supported by this professorship, which has led nationally-recognized research, writing and presentations on speech-language disorders.

Scholarships at the higher education level are important to Scottish Rite Masons, helping tomorrow’s leaders.  For over 25 years the Omaha Foundation has offered a scholarship program that has now reached 14 scholarships of $2,000.00 each.  They are listed as the following:

• William B. Webster Scholarship of Merit, Robert A. Falk Scholarship of Merit, and two unnamed Merit scholarships given as part of a full ride scholarship to exception students of a variety of majors.

• Merit and Need Scholarships are given to students in financial need but also attain a very high grade point level

• F. Jerome Given Scholarship for Speech Pathology is given to a graduate student who is planning a career in Speech Pathology.  To work in our RiteCare clinic a pathologist is required to have obtained a Masters Degree.

• Charles and Anita Sohm Scholarship for an undergraduate or graduate student studying speech-language pathology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

As one recent UNO Speech Communications major told members, "I've learned that dreams are attainable, but they aren't easy. This scholarship has given my dream wings, and I will forever be thankful for that."

Other Masonic and Civic Charities include:

• Masonic Eastern Star Home for Children

• Plattsmouth Masonic Home

• Nebraska Masonic Youth Foundation

• Omaha Home for Boys

• Greater Omaha Economic Development Partnership

• American Legion Boys State

The Scottish Rite Foundation of Omaha has partnered with Institute for Global Ethics (IGE) to provide Ethical Literacy education in area middle and high schools, providing students with an ethical framework for making decisions between right and wrong. Since 2012, the Scottish Rite partnered with the Business Ethical Alliance to host "Ethics on Trial," a unique presentation in a theatrical environment. An ethical dilemma was presented by actors, and tried in a courtroom setting by actual, unscripted attorneys and presided over by an actual Judge. The audience, acting as jury, decides the "guilt" or "innocence" of the parties involved. Past programs have focused on ethics in politics, journalism, and medicine.