Local members of the Order of the Eastern Star and Tisha Woodward, representing the Masonic Home of Missouri, made a special appearance at Tuesday evening’s Kirksville High School band concert to present a generous donation of $45,121 to the school’s music department.
The donation was the result of a successful collaboration between the local chapter of the Eastern Star and the Kirksville High School band and choir departments during their recent Celebrity Dinner fundraiser. With strong community support, the event raised $15,121. True to their word, the Eastern Star members matched that amount dollar-for-dollar. The Masonic Home of Missouri then further amplified the gift with an additional $30,000 — bringing the total contribution to over $45,000.
Music department teachers Brad Hudson, Rebecca Murphy, and Karen Harrison expressed their excitement and gratitude for the significant contribution, which will have a lasting impact on band and choir students at Kirksville High School.
The Order of the Eastern Star is an affiliated organization of the Masons. The Masonic Home of Missouri offers a variety of outreach and financial assistance programs throughout the state, supporting education, families, and community initiatives.