Community DevelopmentGreat Bend Lodge No. 15 Donates $1,000 to Local Racetrack

Great Bend, Kansas (May 5, 2021)—The Kansas Masonic Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to benefiting Kansas communities, has partnered with Great Bend Lodge No. 15 to donate $1000 to the SCRA Dragstrip, a local organization providing community entertainment. The SCRA Dragstrip also provides an outlet for local youth to participate in positive community activities and promotes traffic to local restaurants, hotels, and shopping venues. 

Founded in 1874, Great Bend Lodge No. 15 is a Kansas Masonic lodge dedicated to Freemasonry, the oldest surviving fraternal organization in the world. The lodge has 75 members and is very active in the community, including offering scholarships to Great Bend and Larned High School students, giving away funnel cakes at the Great Bend Holiday Festival, and delivering fruit baskets to Masonic widows and elderly Brothers during Christmas. The lodge also regularly supports the Great Bend Public Library by contributing to their summer reading program and other summertime events to help reach more adults, teens, and children. 

“Our Brothers at Great Bend Lodge No. 15 strive to support the people and projects in our community,” said Great Bend Lodge No. 15 Secretary Greg King. “SCRA has allowed our lodge to sell tickets for the Kansas Masonic Foundation’s car raffle and set up booths at race events for no charge. We have not previously given anything to the SRCA in return for their generosity and feel this donation will benefit the SRCA, our lodge, and the local community.”

Continuing with their support of the local community, the Brothers at Great Bend Lodge No. 15 have teamed up with the Kansas Masonic Foundation to provide a monetary donation of $1,000 to the SCRA Dragstrip in Barton County. The SCRA Dragstrip has a rich history in the world of racing, as it was home to the first National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Nationals in 1955, a televised event showcasing 19 cars and 15,000 spectators. After many years of use, the SCRA is currently in the process of resurfacing the dragstrip, with the donated funds helping to build new guard rails for the track and make it the smoothest racetrack in the nation. This improvement will undoubtedly affect the local community through increased tourism and continue to serve as a source of local entertainment. 

About the Kansas Masonic Foundation:
As the philanthropic arm of Kansas Masons, the Kansas Masonic Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to benefiting Kansas communities and supporting fellow Masons and their families. Since its inception, the foundation has invested more than $50 million in Kansas communities and individuals through funding academic, scientific, and charitable endeavors. For additional information about the Kansas Masonic Foundation and to get involved, click here.