The Golden Age of NC RiteCare has begun.How and why is different from before?
That's a great question and the answer will continue to evolve during 2025.
During a recent grant celebration in Lee County, how we help children with speech and language disorders has changed. We have always helped support university care outreach that supports our local communities from a more distant level, with this step forward now we can help at the grass roots, local school system level and it is truly impactful. If you take a look at 2024 the North Carolina Scottish Rite Masonic Foundation contributions for NC RiteCare assistance helped 303 children with 2,847 care visits and helped allocate 14 hearing aids to children in need. Not to mention the scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students at 3 universities across the state. Those numbers continue to increase as children have more access to quality hearing screenings and care.
That brings us to our Lee County initiative. Lee County Schools has a combined student population of 10,000 students, 17 schools and now has an update Audiology booth with top of the line equipment.
This equipment is being used by Lee County Pediatric Educational Audiologist Dr. Heather Spraque, Au. D and has already benefited over 30 children by those services and and other 70 projected by the end of the school year.
Now, moving forward the NCSRMF and NC RiteCare has the model in place to be impactful in all 100 counties of North Carolina, from Manteo to Murphy, we have the ability to help more children.
How do we find those needs?
Another great question, that is where Project 100 has been launched. The Orient of North Carolina serves all 100 counties, not just those around our Valleys. Over the next few weeks we are identifying Scottish Rite members that live in all 100 counties to be our "listeners" for local communities hearing and language needs. We will have Valley information on how you can be active across the state coming soon. It is an exciting time for our Charity and now is the time to make a difference in your community with NCSRMF and NC RiteCare.
