The Garland Scottish Rite Club has made a profound difference in the Garland community for over 60 years. The organization will be recognized Monday, March 4, in the Texas House of Representatives by Rep. Angie Chen Button for its tireless work in Garland and in Dallas County.
The Garland Scottish Rite Club was chartered in 1956 and has since endeavored to enrich the lives of Garland area residents through various philanthropic programs.
A primary focus has been in assisting high school graduates meet the financial obligations they encounter as they continue their education. To date the Garland Scottish Rite Club has awarded nearly $200,000 in scholarships to 267 Garland area high school seniors.
In addition, the Garland Scottish Rite Club hosts blood drives throughout the year. Started locally in 1991, by a Past President of the Club, the late Jack Dean Patterson, the Gift of Life blood drives have been adopted by Masonic organizations throughout the State of Texas and currently help meet the blood needs of the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, the Shriners Hospitals of Texas and the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.
Other endeavors of the group include working with the Hope Clinic of Garland, which provides health education and urgent care to the underserved and uninsured residents of Garland. In the past the Garland Scottish Rite Club has held paper and office product drives to help offset the overhead costs of Hope Clinic.
About: It is the mission of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, to improve its members and enhance the communities in which they live by teaching and emulating the principles of Brotherly Love, Tolerance, Charity, and Truth while actively embracing high social, moral, and spiritual values including fellowship, compassion, and dedication to God, family and country.