Highlights from A Night of Charity 2024

On December 3, 2024, the Scottish Rite, NMJ hosted its third annual “A Night of Charity” event at Supreme Council headquarters in Lexington, MA. The event featured a telethon, stories from charity recipients, live entertainment and more!

After two successful “A Night of Charity” events in 2022 and 2023, the Supreme Council brought the in-person extension of our Giving Tuesday celebration back for a third year. Members, donors, and supporters of Scottish Rite charities filled Supreme Council headquarters to reflect on the impact of our charities and watch our 7th annual Giving Tuesday broadcast live from our Lexington auditorium.

Through the generosity of donors in Lexington and watching live online, we raised nearly half a million dollars to sustain our vision of caring for our members.

View the highlights from our 2024 A Night of Charity event:

Touching Stories of Impact from Charity Recipients

Both attendees and Brothers at home experienced heartfelt stories from those who have benefited from the support of our Scottish Rite Charities.

The Children’s Dyslexia Centers (CDC), one of our Scottish Rite Charities, are nationally recognized leaders in the effort to help children and their families overcome the hurdles that come with the learning disability dyslexia. For over 30 years, the CDC has provided free or low-cost tutoring to children as well as training for tutors.

Early in the evening, CDC graduate Lily Globe and her mother, Tammy Glode, joined Dave Sharkis, 33°, Director of Operations for the CDC, to share their experience at the Providence, Rhode Island CDC.

Her mother Tammy shared that when Lily was diagnosed with dyslexia, it was recommended they look for Orton-Gillingham tutors. These tutors typically charge anywhere from $60-$100 an hour. This solution wasn’t a sustainable option for the Glode family who had maxed out their credit cards to get Lily the help she needed. That’s when they found the Children’s Dyslexia Centers. 

“We saw Lily blossom from the shy girl sitting in the back of the class to having a voice, finding herself, and helping others,” remarked Tammy on the transformation the CDC fueled for her daughter.

Before finding the CDC, “I had a lot of trouble keeping up with other students…I felt like I couldn’t do this or maybe I should give up,” Lily said. Today, Lily’s academic career has soared; she’s enrolled in college, AP classes, and is currently three grades ahead.

Learn more about the CDC by watching our video, as shown during A Night of Charity.

Later during the broadcast, Timothey S. Marshbanks, 33°, shared a moving story about his experience with the Grand Almoners Fund. 

After his son was in a diving accident that permanently altered his life, Timothey and his family found themselves overwhelmed with the changes – and expenses – required to accommodate his son’s new way of living. 

When the accessible van they used to transport his son to school, doctor’s appointments, and the like had been worn out, Timothey reached out for help. Shortly after his request, the Grand Almoner’s Fund stepped in to provide the funds needed for a new vehicle.

“You have changed this young man’s life with your donation… Josh, today, is now giving back by volunteering for the University of Michigan Hospital with their new quadriplegic cases,” said Brother Marshbanks. “It wasn’t just the financial support; it was the reassurance we weren’t facing this alone.”

Learn more about the Grand Almoner’s Fund in our video below.

Celebrating the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library’s 50th Anniversary

The Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, one of our Scottish Rite charities, is a key player in preserving the history of fraternalism and Freemasonry in America. To celebrate, attendees received guided tours of the Library prior to the live event. 

During the broadcast, we premiered an exclusive video showcasing the founding of the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library that included vintage footage of the laying of the cornerstone, as well as interviews from current and former staff.

To further commemorate the 50th anniversary, Sovereign Grand Commander Walt Wheeler, 33°, Richard Elliot, 33°, Museum & Library Executive Director, and Hilary Anderson Stelling, Director of Collections and Exhibitions, took the stage to share their excitement for this milestone and what lies ahead for the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library.

On April 13, 2025, the Museum & Library will be holding a rededication ceremony. In addition, 2025 will launch a year of anniversary programming paying homage to the Museum’s founding. Finally, they also unveiled their brand-new website! You can visit their new site and learn more about the upcoming 50-year celebrations at srmml.org/celebrate50.

Securing the Future for Our Scottish Rite Charities

The overwhelming success of our 2024 A Night of Charity event is something we can all celebrate. With heartfelt thanks to our members, donors, and sponsors, we raised over $480,000 to benefit our Scottish Rite Charities!

A special thanks to the Brothers and Valleys whose generosity, whether through Valley donations or matching offers, helped make this year’s event a success.

You can watch the full event recording of our Giving Tuesday telethon online here.

Thank you to all who played a role in making our 7th annual Giving Tuesday celebration such a success. Through your kindness and generosity, our charities will continue to make a difference in the lives of our Brethren, their families, and our communities.