The highest calling for a Freemason is to help others regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender, or Masonic affiliation. Ever since the Fraternity came to these shores from Great Britain during the colonial period of American history, Masons have sought to provide relief and assistance for those in need.
True to this calling, the Scottish Rite Foundation of Colorado was created in 1953 by Scottish Rite Masons in Denver. Its work is known as the RiteCare Childhood Language Program. It helps enable Colorado families obtain the highest quality of speech-language therapy services for their children with language disorders.
The award-winning Foundation has grown exponentially over the years and we are now helping an average of 1,000 children annually. This undertaking is sponsored and supported by all Scottish Rite Masons and organizations throughout the state. We also have many friends not in the Masonic Fraternity who join with us in this work.
The RiteCare Program begun in Colorado more than a half century ago is now adopted in one form or another throughout the Scottish Rite in the United States. The treatment of childhood language disorders is endorsed as the Scottish Rite’s flagship philanthropy by our national governing body – the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America (35 States and the District of Columbia) which is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Our Colorado RiteCare Program Director is Dr. Deborah Hayes. She currently occupies the Kelley Family/Schlessman Family Scottish Rite Masons Chair in Childhood Language Disorders at The Children’s Hospital. Dr. Hayes also chairs the Department of Audiology, Speech Pathology and Learning Services and is an internationally renowned audiologist. She has worked with us since 1983.
In Colorado, speech-language services are delivered statewide through clinics at six different hospitals, a non-profit community clinic, and a university-based. Our lead partner is The Children’s Hospital in Denver. Speech therapy services are provided by nationally certified speech-language pathologists at 15 different locations throughout the state.
In addition, we seek to assist children at-risk for language disorders through a preschool reading and literacy program operated by two non-profit organizations at six Colorado locations. The Foundation also supports graduate work in speech-language pathology through the giving of annual scholarships.
I invite you to review this website and learn more about language disorders, the work of the Scottish Rite Foundation of Colorado, and how you can participate in this work
