News release
The Kansas Masonic Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to benefiting Kansas communities, has partnered with Hays Lodge No. 195 to donate $2,000 to the Hays Public Library, an organization centered around providing valuable resources and experiences for all people in the local community.
Founded in 1881, Hays Lodge No. 195 is a Kansas Masonic lodge dedicated to Freemasonry, the oldest surviving fraternal organization in the world. The lodge has 60 members and supports various local organizations and programs, including the Community Assistance Center, the Firefighters’ Relief Association, and the Kansas Masonic High School Essay Contest. Over the last eight years, the lodge has provided over $30,000 in scholarships to students attending technical and four-year university programs and was able to donate $11,500 to the Fort Hayes State University Virtual Literacy Institute.
“Our lodge is an organization designed to help men be better than before and be better friends, husbands, and citizens,” said Hays Lodge No. 195 Master Christopher Neeley. “The brothers of Hays Lodge No. 195 consider community service an essential part of their lives and one of the keys to self-improvement. For that reason, the Lodge has made supporting our community organizations, particularly those supporting literacy in our area, a primary goal.”
To further their mission of supporting literacy in the area, the Brothers at Hays Lodge No. 195 have teamed up with the Kansas Masonic Foundation to donate $2,000 to the Hays Public Library. The library provides community members access to a collection of 300,000 print, non-print, and digital materials, hosts hundreds of programs for all ages annually, and offers free Wi-Fi access and technical assistance to all patrons. The funds will help purchase newborn books for babies born at Hays Medical Center, provide books for Kindergarten milestone prizes, and incentives for other special storytimes and parties. A formal donation announcement will take place later this month.
About the Kansas Masonic Foundation
As the philanthropic arm of Kansas Masons, the Kansas Masonic Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to benefiting Kansas communities and supporting fellow Masons and their families. Since its inception, the foundation has invested more than $50 million in Kansas communities and individuals through funding academic, scientific, and charitable endeavors. For additional information about the Kansas Masonic Foundation and to get involved, please visit https://kansasmasonic.foundation/