Shriners Hospital

  Shriners' Hospitals for Children is a network of 18 orthopaedic hospitals, three burn hospitals and one hospital that provides orthopaedic, burn and spinal cord injury care, where children up to their 18th birthday receive excellent medical care absolutely free of charge.

  The Shrine has supported various charities almost from its inception.  In 1920 however, the organization voted to adopt its own official philanthropy, dedicated to providing free orthopaedic medical care to children in need. The first Shriners Hospital was built in Shreveport, La., in 1922.  The Shrine's philanthropy eventually expanded to twenty-two "Centers of Excellence."

  There is never a charge to the patient, parent or third party for any service or medical treatment received at the hospitals, and no government funding of any kind is sought or accepted for any medical care or services provided at Shriners Hospitals.

What are the relationship between the Shrine and Shriners Hospitals?

  In a unique inter-dependent relationship, the Shrine and Shriners' Hospitals are separate but inseparable.  The Shrine of North America supports Shriners' Hospitals in many ways.    

  Every patient at the Shriners Hospitals is sponsored by a Shriner, who acts as a liaison between the family and the hospital.  Shrine Temples and Clubs often help arrange and pay for transportation for children and parents to the hospitals, and thousands of Shriners spend many hours of their own time driving families to the hospitals and entertaining the patients.  In addition, the Shrine helps support the hospitals financially: each Shriner pays an annual $5 hospital assessment, and Temples and clubs hold many fund-raisers, some of which benefit Shriners' Hospitals for Children.

  The fraternity and the philanthropy, however, are legally and financially separate - the fraternity is incorporated in the state of Iowa, and the philanthropy is incorporated in the state of Colorado.  The funds of the two entities are kept entirely separate and are audited by independent auditors on an individual basis.

  In addition, Shrine Temples are incorporated as a chapter of the fraternity and are audited individually.

How are Shriner Hospitals funded?

  Since 1922, when the first Shriners Hospital was built, more than $5.5 billion has been budgeted for building and operating Shriners' Hospitals for Children.  In 2002 alone, the operating budget for the hospitals is approximately $597 million, including $71 million allocated for building and equipment.  The balance of $526 million includes $24 million set aside for research projets. 

  Where does the money come from?  

Shriners' Hospitals are supported primarily by income from the Shriners' Hospitals for Children endowment fund, which is maintained through donations and bequests from both Shriners and non-Shriners.  Additional income represents each Shriner's annual hospital assessment and fund-raising events sponsored by Shrine Temples, Clubs and Units.

What types of cases are treated at Shriners Hospitals?

Some of the most common orthopaedic problems treated at Shriners        Hospitals are:

	Scoliosis (curvature of the spine)
	Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease)
	Hand problems
	Back problems
	Limb deficiencies and growth problems
	Orthopaedic problems of spina bifida with myelodysplasia (paralysis of limbs due to faulty congenital development of the spine and spinal nerves)
	Orthopaedic problems resulting from neuromuscular disorders
	Legg-Perthes disease (development problems of the hip)
	Orthopaedic problems of cerebral palsy

For more information  Call toll Free
Canada:  1-800-361-7256  US: 1-800-237-5055
 Web site: http:www.shrinershq.org