Kansas Masons To Establish a $1 Million Endowment to Fund the Shriners Children’s Hospital in St. Louis

Kansas Masons Award $50,000 to the Shriners Children’s Hospital in 2025

Topeka, Kansas (August 15, 2025)—As the philanthropic arm of Kansas Masons, the Kansas Masonic Foundation is dedicated to benefiting Kansans and Kansas communities. In recent years, Kansas Masons have displayed their commitment to the success of local communities by donating over $500,000 annually to community-focused causes through 170 statewide lodges, offering free cancer screenings to Kansas residents through the Masonic Cancer Alliance, recognizing exceptional teachers and students across the state, and contributing over $200,000 worth of scholarships annually to local students. 

To continue investing in the health and wellness of Kansans, the Kansas Masonic Foundation, in support of all Kansas Masons, previously pledged $500,000 to the Shriners Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, to be gifted over a 10-year period. The Children’s Hospital remains committed to providing high-quality, individualized treatment plans for each child, offering comprehensive care for orthopedic conditions, spine conditions, neuromuscular conditions, orthotics and prosthetics, and plastic surgery. Due to its reputation for providing exceptional care, families and children from around the world travel to St. Louis to receive treatment, including patients from Kansas. 

This year, Kansas Masons have now officially funded $400,000 of necessary hospital equipment purchases, which will be used for children requiring specialty care and treatment. Continuing with their 10-year pledge, Kansas Masons presented a $50,000 check to the Shriners Children’s Hospital at the St. Louis Hospital’s recent Board Meeting on August 15, 2025, at the Abdallah Temple in Kansas City. Presenting the check to the St. Louis Board of Directors from the Kansas Masonic Foundation were Robert Shively, Executive Director; Lincoln Wilson, President; William Leonard, Trustee; Ralph Streit, Trustee; and Don Wheeler, Trustee. 

Following the presentation, Robert Shively also informed the St. Louis Board of the Masons’ continued commitment to the Shriners Children’s Hospital once the pledge has been fulfilled. Partnering with charitable organizations beyond Kansas is crucial to the Foundation, as many Kansans receive comprehensive care, along with transportation assistance, care management services, rehabilitation programs, and emotional support from the hospital during challenging times.

“Once our original pledge has been fulfilled, Kansas Masons are excited to continue supporting this extraordinary mission,” said Robert Shively, Executive Director of the Kansas Masonic Foundation.  “We are currently in the process of establishing a $1 million Restricted Endowment to perpetually fund $50,000 to the Children’s Hospital moving forward. The hospital is changing the lives of children every day through its commitment to innovative pediatric specialty care, research, and outstanding medical education, and we hope to help advance care through our continued contributions.” 

The Pediatric Care Endowment will provide care to children in Kansas, regardless of their families’ ability to pay, serving as a sustainable resource and a legacy commitment of the Kansas Freemasons and their Foundation.

For more information about the Shriners Children’s Hospital, please visit: https://www.shrinerschildrens.org!  

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, please click here.

About the Grand Lodge of Kansas:
The Grand Lodge of Kansas is the governing body of Freemasonry in Kansas, established on March 17, 1856, five years prior to Kansas’ statehood. Freemasonry is the oldest, largest, and most widely recognized fraternal organization in the world. Freemasons are men, aged 18 and over, of good character who strive to improve themselves and make the world a better place. Kansas Freemasonry encompasses nearly 11,000 Kansas Masons and 170 Lodges across the state. For more information, please visit kansasmason.org.