The Ripple Effect: Walker Scottish Rite Clinic’s Kid Talk Celebration Gala Returns to Commemorate Nearly Four Decades of Giving Children Their Voice

One connection. That is often where it starts at the Walker Scottish Rite Clinic at Maryville University - a two-year-old's first attempt at "mama," a five-year-old finally able to be understood by his teacher. That single moment has been rippling outward into children's futures for nearly 40 years.

This fall, the community that makes those moments possible will gather for the KidTalk Celebration Gala: The Ripple Effect, on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, at the Missouri Athletic Club - Clayton. The evening opens with a happy hour at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner and program at 7:00 p.m., bringing together supporters and families for a night celebrating the Clinic's multigenerational impact.

Campus Connection

The Walker Scottish Rite Clinic's main location sits inside Myrtle E. & Earl E. Walker Hall on Maryville's campus at 650 Maryville University Drive, which is a fitting home for an organization built on teaching communication skills. Since entering into a partnership with Maryville over a decade ago, the Clinic has operated as a fully integrated university program while continuing its status as a public charity, and it continues to reach families through outreach sites and telepractice across the St. Louis region. Partner sites include community centers and Head Start preschools, including an outreach location at the Tabernacle HUB in North St. Louis City, serving families in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood and the greater St. Louis Promise Zone.

Graduate student clinicians in Maryville's Speech-Language Pathology Program gain hands-on experience at the Clinic, delivering assessments and therapy to preschool-age children under the supervision of licensed speech-language pathologists (SLP). The ripple effects of training the next generation of SLPs are immeasurable.

Nearly 40 Years of Free Therapy for St. Louis Families

The Clinic's story began in 1988, when St. Louis Scottish Rite Masons founded the Scottish Rite Clinic for Childhood Language Disorders of St. Louis. In 1996, the clinic added the Walker name in honor of philanthropists Earl and Myrtle Walker, whose generosity shaped its growth. Today it is one of roughly 180 independently operated "RiteCare" clinics supported by Scottish Rite Freemasonry nationwide. Throughout its history, the Clinic's mission has stayed constant: providing speech-language therapy, free of charge, to children ages two through six who otherwise might not be able to receive the care that they need.

A Ripple That Moves Through Generations

This year's gala theme, The Ripple Effect, reflects something Clinic staff see play out again and again: A child growing in their communication abilities and their confidence, a graduate student implementing research-based techniques, a parent using strategies learned at the Clinic - all helping children to reach their communication potential. One breakthrough session becomes an opportunity that ripples throughout the lives of those who have received access to the Clinic's care. Guests at this year's Kid Talk Celebration Gala will celebrate this impact on our St. Louis community.

Community Support Keeps the Ripple Going

Community partnerships and generous donors have long been central to the Clinic's ability to offer services at no cost to client families. In 2024, the Missouri Athletic Club's Charitable Society for Children selected the Walker Clinic as one of its three supported charities, raising more than $20,000 for the Clinic's therapy programs. This partnership makes the Missouri Athletic Club a fitting venue for this year's gala.

Event Details

Wednesday, October 7, 2026
at the Missouri Athletic Club - Clayton
7701 Forsyth Boulevard, Clayton, MO 63105
Featuring Dinner, Open Bar, Silent Auction, and Awards

6:00pm Happy Hour
7:00pm Dinner and Program
Individual Tickets are $150/person and a Table for 10 is $1,500

Proceeds directly support the Clinic's ability to provide free speech-language screenings, therapy, and parent education to children at sites in St. Louis City and County, Jefferson and Lincoln counties, and via telepractice in Missouri.

Tickets and sponsorship information are available at srclinic.org/KidTalk.

About the Walker Scottish Rite Clinic: The Walker Scottish Rite Clinic provides speech-language therapy for children ages 2 through 6 throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area, at no charge to families. Founded in 1988 by the Scottish Rite Masons, the clinic became a program of Maryville University in 2015 and serves children year-round through its main location on the Maryville campus, partner satellite sites, and telepractice. It is one of the Scottish Rite-supported RiteCare programs nationwide for children with communication disorders.