Lafayette Lodge No. 16 Donates $2,000 to Pawnee Mental Health Services

Kansas Masonic Foundation Supports Mental Health Services Donation

Manhattan, Kansas (September 25, 2026)—The Kansas Masonic Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to benefiting Kansas communities, has partnered with Lafayette Lodge No. 16 to donate $2,000 to Pawnee Mental Health Services. The organization ensures that individuals and families have access to mental health and substance use services regardless of their ability to pay. 

Founded in 1859, Lafayette Lodge No. 16 is a Kansas Masonic lodge dedicated to Freemasonry, the oldest surviving fraternal organization in the world. The lodge has 117 active members and proudly supports the Manhattan community through a variety of service‑driven initiatives. These include hosting the annual Memorial Day Safety Break to promote safe holiday travel, partnering with the local foster care agency to provide vital assistance to children and families, contributing to Firepup safety education to help teach essential fire‑safety skills to youth, and engaging in projects that strengthen and uplift downtown Manhattan.

“We’re committed to supporting Pawnee Mental Health Services because of the vital role it plays in strengthening the well‑being of individuals and families throughout our community,” said Philip Rowe, Lafayette Lodge No. 16 Secretary. “Pawnee provides compassionate, accessible mental‑health services that help neighbors facing crisis, trauma, addiction, and everyday challenges find stability and hope. Lodge members believe that a healthy community depends on ensuring people have the support they need, and partnering with Pawnee reflects our dedication to uplifting those who are struggling and promoting resilience across the Manhattan area.”

To further their mission of supporting the local community, the Brothers at Lafayette Lodge No. 16 have teamed up with the Kansas Masonic Foundation to donate $2,000 to Pawnee Mental Health Services. As the designated community mental health center serving a ten-county region, Pawnee provides comprehensive behavioral health care, including therapy, psychiatric services, crisis intervention, substance use treatment, school-based services, housing and recovery supports, and 24/7 Mobile Crisis Response. Pawnee offers services on a sliding fee scale, helps individuals enroll in insurance, and provides financial assistance when possible so no one is denied access to medically necessary behavioral health services because they cannot pay.

All donated funds will be used to establish the Hope for Tomorrow Endowment, a source of financial assistance dedicated to removing financial obstacles to essential psychiatric care. Income generated from the endowment will assist individuals throughout Pawnee Mental Health’s ten-county service area who cannot afford prescribed psychotropic medications, who need temporary assistance during periods of financial hardship, or who require laboratory testing necessary to safely begin or continue psychiatric treatment. By ensuring timely access to both medications and the laboratory services that support their safe use, the Hope for Tomorrow Endowment will help individuals remain stable in their recovery, reduce preventable behavioral health crises, and ensure that financial circumstances do not determine whether someone receives the care they need. A formal donation announcement will take place in the coming weeks.

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.