The Charitable Foundation was originally chartered by the State of Texas in April 1990 as the Waco Scottish Rite Learning Center for the primary purpose of providing reading training to dyslexic children.  A part-time state certified reading teacher was employed and a classroom provided where  students were taught the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital Dyslexic Treatment Curriculum.  In April 2001, the Learning Center was reorganized and recognized as a state chartered charitable agency doing business as the Waco Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation for the purpose of providing charitable and benevolent services and support to Members, Citizens, Children, Communities.  To date, services and support have been given to numerous community and fraternal organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, the Scottish Rite Women’s Dormitory at UT Austin; as well as youth organizations, both community and fraternal, i.e. Rainbow Girls, Demolay for Boys, Heart of Texas History, JROTC and ROTC Americanism Awards to high school and college cadets, Meals on Wheels, and its flagship program, Camp Success.

Over the past 12 Summers, we have seen  950 plus students complete Camp Success,  which is the joint reading and learning effort of the Waco Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation and Baylor University’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.  During this time we have seen Christopher, Daniel, Scott, Mason and many other students discover their abilities to succeed academically by improving their reading and learning abilities.  Even more significant is that this experience has been provided at no cost to the student and their family regardless of ability to pay.

100% of donations received by the Waco Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation go directly to its charitable endeavors, without administrative fees.

Board of Directors

Claude O. Ervin, 33° IGH ………………………………………. Chairman

Dr. Harold E Jackson ……………………………… Chairman Emeritus

J. Damon Fehler, 33° IGH ……………………………… Board Member

Gregory L. McEwen, 33° IGH …………………………. Board Member

Melvin E. Ruyle, 33° IGH ……………………………….. Board Member

Richard L. Love, 32°KCCH ……………………………… Board Member

Scott L. Mills, 33° IGH …………………………………… Board Member

M. L. “Mike” Waldrop, 32° KCCH …………….. Secretary, ex officio

Cameron M. Talbert, III, 33° IGH …………….. Treasurer, ex officio​