In today’s economy, it’s hard to believe that anyone could find medical care for children at no cost. But there is hope – through the Shriners Hospitals for Children.Some may have an image of a Shriner with a red fez hat riding around in a miniature car in local parades. However, as Ralph “Doc” Hathaway assures, the Shriners are a lot more than parades and fuzzy hats.Hathaway, a retired military flight surgeon, said the Shriners Hospitals for Children is a network of 22 pediatric hospitals in the U.S., Canada and Mexico that provide specialized care for orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate – all at no charge. The hospitals are open to all children up to 18 years old, and eligibility for care is not based on financial need.The organization operates on money that comes from gifts, bequests, endowment funds, hospital fundraising events and the annual assessment paid by each Shriner, Hathaway said. This year, the Shriners Hospital board has set the budget for $721 million, with more than 70 percent strictly designated to hospital operations.Hathaway became a Shriner last year and said his reason for joining is simple: “You just take one look at those kids,” he said. “And how could you not get involved?”For more information on the Shriners and how to get involved, call Doc Hathaway at 494-1788 or call the Shriners Hospital toll-free number at 1-800-237-5055.More facts about the Shriners
- The total Shrine membership is more than 411,000.
- There are 191 Shrine Temples, or chapters, throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Republic of Panama.
- The first Shrine Temple was the Mecca Shriners, organized in New York City in 1872.
- The first Shriners Hospital opened in 1922 in Shreveport, La.
- In 2006, about 93 percent of the Shriners Hospitals’ operating budget was used directly for patient care and research at the hospitals.
- About $7.6 billion has been spent operating the 22 Shriners Hospitals.
- More than $1.73 billion has been spent on construction costs for the 22 Shriners Hospitals.
- More than 800,000 children have been helped at the 22 Shriners Hospitals.
