Tommie L. Robinson, Jr., Ph.D.
Director, Scottish Rite Center for Childhood Language Disorders
1630 Columbia Road, NW, Washington, DC 20009

Photo: During the 1999 Gala Banquet, seven-year-old Briana Mendez, a client at the Scottish Rite Center in Washington, D.C., told how our Order has helped her stop stuttering. Pictured right (l. to r.) at the Gala Banquet are: Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, 33°, G.C., President, The George Washington University; Briana; Dr. Tommie L. Robinson, Jr.; and Bishop Carl J. Sanders, 33°, G.C., Grand Chaplain.
In 1952, the Denver and Rocky Mountain Scottish Rite Bodies created a philanthropic foundation to treat children with aphasia or, as we know it today, speech-language difficulties. The Supreme Council followed their lead and promoted the expansion of similar projects throughout the Southern Jurisdiction. Today, there are 136 Scottish Rite Centers, Clinics, and Programs for Childhood Language Disorders. Each promotes the mission of the Supreme Council's service to children.

In 1987, the Valley of Washington in the District of Columbia and Children's Hospital's Hearing and Speech Center got together and decided to make a dream come true. The catalyst of that dream was the children of the D.C. metropolitan area. This group realized that dream into a state-of-the-art facility located in the Adams-Morgan area of the city. The new building opened its doors in June 1989 and was dedicated by then First Lady Barbara Bush. A few weeks ago, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of our clinic in a fun-filled day of games and activities. It was one of the most beautiful days I have ever seen. The temperature was just right, and the people were perfect. The Scottish Rite Masons showed up in record numbers along with their wives who serve as volunteers at the center. This created a perfect blend of people who care, with the children and their families who need assistance.

This ten-year anniversary led us to examine our past. We proudly say that through your help we have grown from a staff of 1.5 speech-language pathologists to a staff of 3.5 with two administrative support people. The center serves over 500 children and their families each year. Most of the children are from the District of Columbia and reflect the rich cultural and linguistic diversity of the District's population.

The center's professional staff can provide diagnostic and therapy services in Spanish as well as English. Also, the center's professional staff works very closely with the community's schools, social agencies, and physicians. Prevention, early identification, and intervention form the framework of the Scottish Rite Center's speech-language pathology service delivery program. Since its founding in 1987, the Scottish Rite Foundation has provided over $1.4 million in free care to children with speech language problems whose families could not afford diagnostic and therapy services.

Our center is known throughout the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area for its commitment to children, adolescents, and their families. In addition to bilingual speech language evaluation and treatment, we provide fluency evaluation and therapy for stuttering, early intervention for preschool children, parent education programs, special summer programs, and literacy and language experiences. There is comfort in knowing that what we do every single day, with your help, aids in shaping the citizens of our society. Because we intervene as early as possible with children and their families with speech-language and reading difficulties, we reduce learning difficulties. This leads to a reduction in the number of children who later have academic and social difficulties. In other words, your gift to society is a precious, priceless gem.

The Scottish Rite book Loving Hearts Big and Small by Helene R. Fagan says so much about the mission of the Scottish Rite Masons.* This children's book tells of a "Kruger Bear" who goes through the world spreading kindness and helping people, especially children. Because of your philanthropic endeavor, there are thousands of children who can look each of you in the eyes and say with joy and admiration in their hearts, "You are my Kruger Bear."*

One of our greatest rewards is in knowing that the children we see get better and move on to do bigger and better things. I am very proud this evening to recognize one of our prize patients who came to us at the age of 15. She had a moderate to severe case of stuttering. I am proud to say that this young lady no longer needs our services and that she is a freshman at the University of the District of Columbia majoring in Computer Graphics. I am also proud to say that if you talked with her, you probably would not know that she stuttered. Ms. Arien Aguilar would you please stand? Sitting next to her is Mrs. Margarita Vigas, one of our bilingual speech-language Pathologists.

Now, you are probably wondering whom this charming young lady is standing next to me. Well I will let her tell you about herself. [Briana Mendez comes to the microphone.]

Hello ladies and gentlemen, my name is Briana Mendez. I am seven years old, and I am in the second grade at Cleveland Elementary School. I want to let you know that I love going to the Scottish Rite Center where Ms. Margarita, Dr. Robinson, and the other people help me with my speech. I sometimes stutter, but it is better now. I would like to thank them for helping me. As you can see, I feel good when I talk now. Before I started speech therapy, I used to have a hard time getting my words out. With my therapy, I am doing great!

*Single sample copies of Loving Hearts, Big and Small (not for individual use, but to be used for fund-raising consideration) are available for $3.00 each, checks payable to the Scottish Rite Foundation of Virginia, by writing to William M. Benson, Sr., A&A Scottish Rite, PO Box 7276, Portsmouth, VA 23707–0276. For orders of 10 or more books, the price is $2.50 per book, plus the cost of the preferred method of shipping. For more information, contact Bro. Benson by mail at the address above, voice (757–484–1759), or fax (757–484–3020).