Who We Support
Scottish Rite Children’s Charities
Scottish Rite Children’s Charities encompass two impactful programs throughout the United States. The RiteCare Scottish Rite Childhood Language Program supported by the Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction provides diagnostic evaluation and treatment of speech and language disorders as well as learning disabilities. The Northern Masonic Jurisdiction hosts the Children’s Dyslexia Centers which assists children through reading instruction, tutoring and dyslexia remediation. The LIGHT Foundation honors both programs in their work to alleviate language and literacy barriers for children. The LIGHT Foundation directly supports these programs through national funding, creation of strategic giving campaigns, messaging and grant underwriting for targeted initiatives to strengthen programs.
Maryville University
Maryville University of St. Louis is a private university in Town and Country, Missouri. Founded in 1872, the University now offers more than 90 degrees at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels to students from 50 states and 47 countries. The LIGHT Foundation commends the transformative, diverse and inclusive educational environment of Maryville. The LIGHT Foundation is a proud scholarship underwriter and collaborative entity with the University through the Walker Scottish Rite Clinic at Maryville, Kids Rock Cancer and University Leadership & Service Club.
Walker Scottish Rite Clinic
The Walker Scottish Rite Clinic at Maryville University is committed to teaching two-through six-year-old children with speech and language disorders the communication skills necessary to succeed in school and throughout their lives. This goal is achieved through early identification and long-term therapy and by training parents to use techniques with their children at home. The LIGHT Foundation supports the Clinic through youth-opportunity initiatives, creation of marketing and resource development and fiscal support to benefit the children served through the Scottish Rite RiteCare Language Program at Maryville.
Kids Rock Cancer
Kids Rock Cancer is an innovative program that helps children successfully cope with the unique emotional challenges that accompany a cancer diagnosis. Through the proven healing power of music therapy, Kids Rock Cancer helps children combat feelings of anxiety, depression, uncertainty and helplessness. The LIGHT Foundation wholeheartedly supports Kids Rock Cancer’s foundation that music heals the soul. The Foundation works closely with the children’s program to facilitate and amplify therapeutic opportunities through our newest program, LIGHT Box Productions.
University Leadership & Service Clubs
This student-led, community-focused club was created to support socially responsible university students to plan, organize, and facilitate their own programs, service projects and events. The inaugural DeMolay Leadership & Service Club at Maryville University is supported through the LIGHT Foundation with resources, leadership opportunities and academic scholarships to change the landscape for the betterment of tomorrow.
Missouri DeMolay
Missouri DeMolay prepares young men to lead successful, happy, and productive lives by developing their civic awareness, personal responsibility, and leadership skills. The LIGHT Foundation supports the core values of DeMolay and invests in leadership development, continuing education and community-forward philosophies through scholarships, collaborative projects and program opportunities.
Unleashing Potential
While represented by a new name beginning in 2018, the mission of UP remains the same as it was when the organization started as part of the settlement house movement in 1913: to provide children and families the support they need to grow UP, keep UP, reach UP, leading to a more just community for all. The LIGHT Foundation values UP’s commitment to early childhood education and youth development for St. Louis families and supports the program through resources, funding and youth-forward initiatives.
Shriners Hospitals for Children – St. Louis
Since 1924, Shriners Hospitals for Children – St. Louis’s board-certified surgeons and staff have been providing high-quality pediatric orthopaedic care to children, regardless of the families’ ability to pay. The St. Louis Shriners Hospital proudly serves children from all over the U.S. and the world, but the primary catchment area is the nine states of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Iowa. The LIGHT Foundation is called to support the mission of unlimited possibilities for children served at the Hospital through the integral transportation provided through the Moolah Shrine organization.
