What is the relationship between the Shrine and Shriners Hospitals?

In a unique interdependent relationship, the Shrine and Shriners Hospitals are separate but inseparable. Shriners International support Shriners Hospitals in many ways. A Shriner, who acts as a liaison between the family and the hospital, sponsors every patient at Shriners Hospitals. 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.

Shriners Hospitals for Children depends on the generosity of many individuals and organizations for the funding needed to continue operating this extraordinary philanthropy.

Shriners Hospitals for Children is a fully qualified 501(c)3 charitable organization under IRS regulations. Donations are tax-deductible as provided by law. Charitable contributions work hard at Shriners Hospitals. Shriners Hospitals is consistently ranked at the very top among “charities that watch their pennies best.” Our children clinic and transportation funds are part of the Hospitals and are thus fully qualified 501(c)3 chariable sources for givings.

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

The Shrine supported various charities almost from its inception. In 1920, however, the organization voted to adopt its own official philanthropy, dedicated to providing free orthopedic medical care to children in need, and the first Shriners Hospital was built in Shreveport, La., in 1922 The Shrine’s philanthropy eventually expanded to 22 “Centers of Excellence”.

The purpose of all Shriners Hospitals is to help children lead fuller, more productive lives. By promoting the importance of the family and helping it become a stronger support system for the child, Shriners Hospitals can accomplish their purpose more effectively.

Shriners Hospitals accept and treat any child up to their 18th birthday if, in the opinion of the hospital’s Chief of Staff, the child can be helped. Shriners Hospitals are open to all children without regard to race, religion, or relationship to a Shriner. There is never a charge to the patient, parent, or any third party for any service or medical treatment received at the Shriners Hospitals.

Recognizing that the family plays a vital role in a child’s ability to overcome an illness or injury, Shriners Hospitals developed their family centered care concept, to help the family provide the support and involvement the child requires. This concept stresses that while medicine might heal the child’s body, tending to the child’s sense of well being is equally important to his or her recovery. Family-centered care involves the family in all aspects of the child’s care and recovery. The parents are taught how to care for the child at home. Where possible, room is provided for at least one parent to remain with the child throughout the hospital stay, and brothers and sisters are encouraged to visit the child. Specially trained personnel help the family accept the child’s illness or injury, also to deal with the feelings of guilt and frustration that often arise in such situations, and they counsel the family concerning the special needs of the child and other family members.

Shriners Hospitals for Children have been involved in research since the 1920′s, but in the early 1960s the Shrine aggressively entered the structured research field and began earmarking funds for projects. Since that time, Shriners Hospitals have been at the vanguard of research, achieving significant progress in orthopedic and burn treatment. Through 1999, over a quarter of a billion dollars has been spent for research efforts.

One of the better-known achievements of Shriners Hospitals’ research is the cultured skin developed by the Boston Hospital in connection with the Harvard Medical School Researchers developed a method of “growing” skin from a tiny sample of a burn patient’s own skin. In a celebrated 1983 case this breakthrough enabled the burns hospital to save the lives of two boys who were burned over 97 percent of their body surface, marking the first time a cultured organ had ever been used in a life-saving situation, as well as the first time any human being was known to survive such a severe injury.

Nineteen of the 22 Shriners Hospitals treat children with problems of the bones, joints or muscles located throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, these hospitals offer expert state-of-the-art medical care to children with orthopedic deformities, diseases or injuries, such as clubfoot, scoliosis and the orthopedic problems caused by cerebral palsy.

Each of Shriner’s four burn hospitals has a three-fold purpose:

Shriners Hospitals have the only spinal cord injury units in the nation designed specifically for children and adolescents. Housed in the Chicago , Philadelphia and Sacramento hospitals, the SCI Units provide long-term rehabilitative care and intensive physical, occupational and recreational therapy, designed to help spinal cord injured children relearn the basic skills of everyday life.

Members of Shriners International are members of the Masonic Order and adhere to the principles of Freemasonry – Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.

Freemasonry is the oldest, largest, and most widely known fraternal organization in the world. It dates back hundreds of years to when stonemasons and other craftsmen on building projects gathered in shelter houses or lodges. Through the years these gatherings changed in many ways until formal Masonic lodges emerged, with members bound together not by trade, but by their own wishes to be fraternal brothers.

Shriners are distinguished by an enjoyment of life in the interest of philanthropy.

As an organization with approximately 350,000 members (3,000 members in Arizona), the fraternity has a buoyant philosophy. This philosophy has been expressed as “Pleasure without intemperance, hospitality without rudeness, and jollity without coarseness.”

Shriners are men who enjoy life. They enjoy parades, motorcycle runs, trips, circuses, dances, dinners, sporting events, and other social occasions together. Furthermore, Shriners support what has become known as the “World’s Greatest Philanthropy,”

Through fellowship and philanthropy, Shrinedom strengthens the soul and adds inner meaning to daily life. It thus spreads a glow of joy through one’s entire family.

Men from all walks of life and all levels of income find fun, fellowship, and relaxation in their local Shrine organizations and its activities. There are also regional Shrine Clubs in many communities. Family picnics, dances, parties, and scheduled trips to near and far are just a few of the activities available.

For the Shriner desiring even more activity, there are various units that he can join, such as motorcycles, drum & bugle corps, oriental bands, horse patrols, and clown units. Every effort is made to ensure that a Noble has a variety of activities from which he may choose.

There are 193 Local Shrine Organizations, located in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Phillipines, Puerto Rico and the Republic of Panama. Informal Shrine Clubs are located all around the world.

Membership in any sense of the meaning is the lifeblood of any organization, especially the Shrine and El Zaribah in particular. There are many individuals that depend on us. Consider the children we support requiring specialized medical care in our Hospitals, the annual Circus for excitement, joy and laughter, and more.

Membership is every member’s business and benefit. El Zaribah’s leadership has gone to great lengths to create an environment that would provide something for everyone. Few limits have been placed on the members to help ensure they can participate as much or as little according to their personal needs. You can find many opportunities in the various Units and Clubs. Beyond that, there are various Shrine Committees’ where one can employ his skills and expertise to a specific project. These activities pretty much allow you to determine the time you want to devote to the project.

It shouldn’t be long until you find yourself inviting friends and acquaintances to become a member of El Zaribah where they too can enjoy the fun and fulfillment of membership.

On February 10, 1896 , a group of Masons was issued a dispensation to form the nucleus of a new Shrine organization in Phoenix, Arizona Territory. On June 24 of that year, a charter was issued to to these men and they were given the name of El Zaribah Shriners for the area identified as the Arizona Territory. This new name “El Zaribah” is arabic and is translated to mean “Hunter’s Paradise”. When you think about the Arizona Territory of the 1890′s the Phoneix area with the flow of the Salt River was truely a “Hunter’s Paradise”. Soon after the charter was issued, a band and a patrol were formed to comply with Imperial Council’s requirement that every organization was to have such units.

During the early years of El Zaribah, it is understood that most activities were held in a building known as the Berryhill Building, located near First Street and East Washington in Phoenix.

On February 22, 1921, the old El Zaribah Shrine building was dedicated. “Vic” Hanny was Potentate at that time. But during the decade of the 70′s it became apparent that a new location for the Shrine building would need to be established. The state of Arizona wanted the site at 15th Avenue & Washington to be incorporated into the government mall.

After a search across the valley of the sun, the present site was located and ground was broken in October of 1988. On September 30, 1989, the Cornerstone Laying was held. The first regular stated meeting was held in the new building on December 13, 1989.

This new building which is now called the Shrine Auditorium is used by the Shrine and many other groups and indiviuals for private parties and events very much in align to the ideals and thought of the Shrine’s founding fathers.