Scottish Rite Masons in Action
History
In early 1952 a social worker at The Children’s Hospital in Denver approached the Scottish Rite Masonic Fraternity in Denver requesting assistance for a young widowed mother who needed financial help in obtaining treatment for her 4-year-old son. The Scottish Rite Masons who followed up on this request were William G. Schweigert, 33°, Gerald L. Schlessman, 33°, and the Honorable Haslett P. Burke, 33°, Grand Cross, then a member of the Colorado Supreme Court.
Following a detailed investigation over several months these Scottish Rite Masons presented an organization proposal to the Scottish Rite membership for creation of a foundation which would be dedicated to the treatment of children with language disorders.
During a cold and snowy night on November 25, 1952, about 500 Scottish Rite Masons gathered in the Scottish Rite Consistory auditorium at 1370 Grant Street in Denver and approved creation of the Scottish Rite Foundation of Colorado for the purpose of providing financial assistance for the treatment of childhood language disorders.
The Scottish Rite Foundation was formally organized on February 3, 1953 as a 501(c) (3) public charity.
Our Roots
To learn more about the history of the Scottish Rite of Freemasony and what inspires our dedication to humanity, please visit the website of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Supreme Council 33°, for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States.
Our Team
A strong team with years of experience
*Ex officio member
Board of Trustees
| Trustee | Board Position | Residence |
|---|---|---|
| The Honorable Stephen M. Munsinger, 33° Emeritus | President | Denver, Colorado |
| John W. Groves, 33° | Vice President | Grand Junction, Colorado |
| Richard G. Frohlick, 33° | Member | Denver, Colorado |
| Robert W. Gregory, 33° | Member | Fort Collins, Colorado |
| Karl J. Hinkle, 33° Deputy to the Supreme Council | Member | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Thomas R. Magnuson, 33° | Member | Greeley, Colorado |
L. Bryant Harris, 32° KCCH
Executive SecretaryThe Executive Secretary is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Foundation. This includes all development work, accounting activities, reporting responsibilities, donor liaison, and management coordination with the Kelley Family/Schlessman Family Scottish Rite Masons Chair in Childhood Language Disorders at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
The Executive Secretary is an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees, Finance Committee, and Long Range Planning Committee.
Mr. Harris has been a Freemason since 2005. He has served as the Worshipful Master of his home Lodge, South Denver No. 93, the Venerable Master of the Knights of St. Andrew, the Venerable Master of the Centennial Lodge of Perfection for the Scottish Rite Valley of Denver and is currently an officer in the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Colorado.
Mr. Harris’s civic activities include active participation in the Mustang Squadron of the Colorado Wing of the Civil Air Patrol and a Charter Organization Representative for Pack 131, Centennial District, Boy Scouts of America.
Kristin M. Uhler, Ph.D.
Kelley Family/Schlessman Family Scottish Rite Masons Chair in Childhood Language DisordersIn 2003 the Kelley Family/Schlessman Family Scottish Rite Masons Chair in Childhood Language Disorders was established at Children’s Hospital Colorado with a $2 million gift from the Scottish Rite Foundation of Colorado.
Kristin Uhler, Ph.D., is honored by the Foundation as the second occupant of this distinguished position — the first $2 million Chair to be established at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
The Scottish Rite Foundation of Colorado established this Chair to help ensure continued leadership in childhood language development sciences by Children’s Hospital Colorado. In addition, the Foundation established the Chair to provide for continued coordination of all Foundation-supported RiteCare operations in Colorado.
Dr. Uhler is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and has been affiliated with Children’s Hospital Colorado since 2015. An audiologist by training, Kristin’s passion is childhood language and supporting families in best practices for healthy development. She holds a prestigious mentored research award from the National Institutes of Health and her research is focused on identifying a biomarker for language development in infants, especially in infants who are deaf or hard-of-hearing.