California Foundation

Officers & Staff

Financial Support

Our charities are supported by the Scottish Rite Masons who belong to 18 Scottish Rite Temples in California.

Remember your Donation is tax Deductible

A Message From Our Chairman of the Board

Nothing can warm your heart as much as hearing the cheerful sounds of little Children laughing, talking and playing as they go about their daily routines of living, learning, and preparing themselves to become useful, knowledgeable and productive citizens within our society.

By the same token, how sad it is to witness the inner pain and suffering of any Child who is unable to speak properly, and be clearly understood, simply because they are afflicted with a childhood language disorder such as, aphasia or dyslexia. Such Children are literally prisoners of their own minds; and try as they might, they cannot break those bonds of imprisonment without the assistance of properly qualified Childhood Speech Therapists. Many of these Children who are denied such help, may remain educationally handicapped for the rest of their lives. Given the proper assistance however, they become not only able to clearly speak and properly enunciate, but they very often become over-achievers in their chosen field of endeavor.

In the early 1950's in Colorado, the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States initiated a program to help Children who have speech or language disorders. Today there are 150 Scottish Rite Clinics, Centers, and Programs for Children located throughout the United States. Each of these facilities is staffed by Speech-Language Pathologists and other trained personnel. Through the support of Scottish Rite members and friends, these Clinics, Centers and Programs continue to provide care for Children. Thirteen such Clinics or Centers are now in full-time operation here in the State of California, and hundreds of Children are being treated yearly for language disorders.

The success of these Clinics and Centers depends entirely upon the financial support given by members and non-members of the Scottish Rite, and this support is the very lifeblood of our Program. As a result of the generous contributions made by all of you, our Childhood Language Disorders Program has expanded each year in California, and many more Children are being added to our patient list every month. We are eternally grateful to you for your continued support, and you may be assured that every dollar you contribute is being well used in this Program.

As you rest your head upon your pillow tonight, please do me this favor: Give yourself a warm pat on the back and mentally say, "I am proud to be a part of the California Scottish Rite Childhood Language Program", because, "Scottish Rite really does , Care for Children!:

Most Sincerely,
Ill:. H. Douglas Lemons, 33°, Chairman of the Board

History

The CALIFORNIA SCOTTISH RITE FOUNDATION was incorporated on 1958 for the purpose of conducting the following three avenues of aid we offer our youth:

1. Aphasia and Dyslexia
Children with these language disorders are taught under expert therapists to speak, read, and write.

2. Dynamic Freedoms
Under our Great American Fundamentals program, we distribute to public schools without cost our Supreme Council's history books called Dynamic Freedoms.

3. Student Aid
Young men and women can apply to the Foundation for a grant to pursue their education at university and graduate level. There is also scholastic aid at individual temples.

1. Aphasia and Dyslexia

Grand Commander Emeritus Henry C. Clausen founded our first California aphasia clinic in 1962. Thanks to your faithful donations and bequests, over $20 million has been channeled to help these children. A child with aphasia or dyslexia is often exceptionally bright but unable to communicate or read. Therefore early diagnosis and treatment are important. After careful evaluation and diagnosis, treatment can achieve remarkable verbal and reading improvement, sometimes in a matter of months.

The children gain confidence and skill with each lesson. It's a warming experience to watch their progress and to read the grateful letters from their parents. There are nor bars of race, color, or creed. Ages range from 3-21 years. Regretfully, we can only provide services to children with speech language disorders. We reserve the right to decline services.

Presently, there are 150 Clinics, Centers, or Programs in the Southern Jurisdiction. The Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Program began in Denver, Colorado, in the early 1950's.

Through the dedication of California Scottish Rite Masons, there are now 13 SCOTTISH RITE CHILDHOOD LANGUAGE CENTERS in operation in California.

2850 19th Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94132
(415)664-4646
(415)884-4647
OPENED 1970		 16 E. Carrillo St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805)962-8469
OPENED 1984
6310 San Vicente Blvd.
Ste. 300
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323)936-2153
OPENED 1977		 2455 Masonic Drive
San Jose, CA 95125
(408)448-4357
OPENED 1984
855 Elm Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90813
(562)436-7787
OPENED 1978		 625 Acacia Lane
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
(707)539-3003
OPENED 1986
1895 Camino del Rio South
San Diego, CA 92108
(619)291-2506
OPENED 1982		 6151 H Street
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916)731-4357
OPENED 1987
4400 Varsity Ave.
San Bernardino, CA 92407
(909)887-2335
OPENED 1982		 1435 L Street
Fresno, CA 93721
(559)498-8393
OPENED 1992
33 W. Alpine Avenue
Stockton, CA 95204
(209)462-2613
OPENED 1982		 150 N. Madison Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626)564-8947
OPENED 1996
1547 Lakeside Drive
Oakland, CA 94612
(510)839-1513
OPENED 1983
Center Volunteers

Our retired members and the ladies' associations of the temples have an active role in our clinics. Volunteer time and help are always welcome to make the children's therapy materials, e.g. picture books, and to furnish toys for the waiting room to raise funds for equipment and operating costs secretarial and telephone help is always needed.

2. Dynamic Freedoms

The Foundation will subsidize the efforts of the temples in California to distribute to the elementary and secondary school students these fine books on Americanism. Each year dedicated brethren deliver thousands of books throughout the public education system without cost to the schools.

3. Student Aid

A. Scholarships for Undergraduates:

Hundreds of students have received college degrees over the years through the Foundation's scholastic grants. In 1966 the Ralph Ruppert scholarship trust fund was opened for worthy young men and women of California seeking higher education. In 1980 the Foundation set up a Special Scholarship fund to further expand our student assistance program.

Direct your inquiry to the Foundation office in Long Beach. A transcript, photograph, and letters of recommendation are required as detailed on the application form. Under the trust, we are limited each year to investment earnings which fluctuate. Therefore, each student file is reviewed annually.

Eligibility-California residents aged 17 to 25 seeking a college degree, whether a beginning freshman or already enrolled.

Award--$1,500 per year, for a maximum of four years or until completion of undergraduate degree, paid directly to the student at $750 in August and $750 February upon receipt of the necessary documentation. Any fully accredited university nationwide is acceptable. The major must be a standard academic field with general undergraduate background. Requests for applications will be accepted Jan.1-Feb. 15, 2002.

B. Graduate Aid:

Our graduate aid provides scholarships for California residents in Public School Careers or Speech Language Pathology Careers.

Public School Administration Career-A career educator with experience in the classroom and public school administration must satisfy the 60 semester hours required for a doctorate. These educators seek advancement in the Elementary or Secondary levels of our public education system as Administrators or Superintendents.

Eligibility - Any graduate student.

Award - $6,000 is awarded towards your costs of tuition and living allowance payable $3,000 in August and $3,000 in February upon receipt of proper documentation. Requests for applications will be accepted Jan. 1-Feb. 15, 200.

Contact - Scholarship application forms will be forwarded on request from January 2, 2001 to February 16, 2001. To request an application, send us a letter at 855 Elm Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90813. For further information call (562) 435-6061.

Special Appeal for Funds

Your gift for your local aphasia clinic is now mailed by you directly to that Clinic or Center which deposits and acknowledges your donation. Such funds, of course, bypass the Foundation's needs.

Donations can be made directly to the California Scottish Rite Foundation itself to cover the 3 charities described here, including the support of clinic headquarters and a yearly subsidy of $15,000 for new clinics. This expense to us is a substantial drain on our revenues.

Thus the foundation is the lifeblood of our California charities. We appreciate your understanding and support of our Charitable Programs. Without your contributions to the CALIFORNIA SCOTTISH RITE FOUNDATION, these Charitable Programs would not exist.

You may give IN HONOR OF or IN MEMORY OF a selected individual. This donation will be acknowledged to the Honoree or to the party named by you on an IN MEMORY OF donation. The amount of the donation will remain private and will only appear on your donation acknowledgement.

Your assistance to our non-profit corporation enables your charitable dollars to be part of a larger picture.

Donations can be made to: San Jose Scottish Rite Foundation, 2455 Masonic Drive, San Jose, CA 95125. For further information call (408) 978-7483.

Estate Planning

Many Scottish Rite Masons remember the Foundation when they plan their estates for tax-exempt bequests.

Remind your attorney when drawing your Will:

  1. Bequest is payable to California Scottish Rite Foundation and can be earmarked for your favorite arm of charity such as Americanism or Scholarships or our Childhood Language Clinics statewide.
  2. Your charitable gifts are tax deductible under Federal and State Rulings. Our charitable designation with the IRS is #94-2541623.