Kansas Masons and the Kansas Masonic Foundation Announce Over $425,000 in Community Donations in 2024

Kansas Masons Donate Over $425,000 to Local Kansas Communities

Topeka, Kansas (January 30, 2025)—As the philanthropic arm of Kansas Masons, the Kansas Masonic Foundation is dedicated to benefiting Kansans and Kansas communities. Throughout its rich history, the Kansas Masonic Foundation has generously supported community-based initiatives and programs through charitable donations. In 2024 alone, Kansas Masons reinvested over $425,000 in Kansans and local Kansas communities in the following areas: community development, disaster relief, education, food assistance, health services, performing arts, youth outreach, and more. 

Some of Kansas Masons’ most notable education-focused efforts include providing $12,000 to local  Kansas students through the annual Kansas Masonic Essay Contest and awarding scholarships to 212 students across the state, totaling over $220,000. All scholarships awarded, ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 per student, were given to graduating high school seniors and students already attending four-year or two-year universities, including junior, vocational, and technical colleges throughout the state. 

In an effort to support various health-related initiatives, Kansas Masons were able to raise $500,000 to purchase a mammogram screening unit to be utilized on the Masonic Cancer Alliance’s mobile cancer screening van. With this new addition, Kansas Masons will be able to expand their offerings by providing early detection services to women in local Kansas communities beginning in early 2025. In addition to expanding Kansans’ access to potentially life-saving screenings, the Kansas Masonic Foundation, in partnership with Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas (DSNWK), was able to establish the Mountain Slope Masonic Lodge Special Needs Fund for children with physical disabilities in Decatur County, Kansas. 

This past year, Kansas Masons also continued to support and honor local residents by hosting various events, including a 2024 Holiday Toy Drive to assist families in need in the Wichita area and an Inaugural First Responders Appreciation Day Event to recognize First Responders in the Wichita community.

Throughout 2024, the Kansas Masonic Foundation continued to expand its philanthropic reach throughout the state, sponsoring many new initiatives. Most recently, the organization entered into a 5-year partnership as Title Sponsor for the Sunflower State Games, Kansas’s largest amateur multi-sport competition. Other notable partnerships include Kansas Masons’ sponsorship of the Inaugural First Impressions Gala at the Museum of Art + Light and the Annual Gold Star Family Remembrance and Recognition Ceremony in Topeka, Kansas. 

“In addition to these philanthropic efforts, our Kansas Masonic Lodges have remained heavily active in their local communities this year, presenting 250 charitable contributions (totaling $425,000) to various community-based organizations across the state,” said Robert Shively, Executive Director of the Kansas Masonic Foundation. “We are proud of these efforts and are excited to continue expanding our reach in charitable, educational, and scientific programs into 2025!”

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.