California Freemasons

Masons are driven by a commitment to take care of one another and their communities. This commitment has improved lives in California since before the state was formed: During the gold rush and the severe hardship that followed, Masons in the area provided food and relief to struggling families. When cholera swept through Sacramento in 1850, they helped build a hospital at Sutter’s Fort.  

In 1898, the Masonic Homes of California was built with the creation of our first residential community in Union City. Today, the Masonic Homes provides residential senior living, statewide outreach and case management services, and referrals to care resources.  It also provides therapeutic services for struggling youth through the Masonic Center for Youth and Families.

The California Masonic Foundation was formed in 1969 with the purpose of furthering the education of young people from kindergarten through college. Today, we provide philanthropic services to all of California’s Masonic charities – from the Masonic Homes to literacy initiatives and other impactful community programs.

You can read about all of these programs and their impact on our communities in our Annual Report, on our award-winning California Freemason magazine website.