Jordan Ellis
Shriners Hospitals for Children, commonly known as Shriners Children's, is a network of non-profit children's hospitals and paediatric medical facilities across North America. The history of Shriners Children's dates back to 1870 when a group of 13 Freemasons met in New York City to discuss forming a new fraternity based on the principles of Freemasonry but with a focus on fun and fellowship. The Shriners became known for their philanthropic efforts, and in 1919, the Imperial Potentate Freeland Kendrick proposed establishing a healthcare system to provide free medical care for children with orthopaedic conditions. Construction on the first Shriners Hospital began in 1922 in Shreveport, Louisiana, and the hospital officially opened in 1923. Today, Shriners Children's has served over 1.5 million children and continues to provide comprehensive treatment for a range of paediatric specialities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1870 |
| Founder | 13 Freemasons |
| First hospital location | Shreveport, Louisiana |
| Year construction began on the first hospital | 1922 |
| Year first hospital opened | 1925 |
| First hospital capacity | 60 beds |
| Number of hospitals | 22 |
| Specialties | Orthopaedics, scoliosis, cleft lip and palate, burns, spinal cord injuries, sports medicine, rheumatic diseases, craniofacial conditions, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, neurological conditions, skin conditions |
| Number of patients served | 1.5 million+ |
| Age range of patients | 0-18 (sometimes up to 21) |
| Parent organisation | Shriners International |
| Parent organisation's former name | Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine |
| Parent organisation's type | Fraternal organisation |
| Parent organisation's philanthropic efforts | Helped during a yellow fever epidemic in Jacksonville, Florida; aided flood victims in Johnstown, Pennsylvania |
| Parent organisation's headquarters | Tampa, Florida |
| Parent organisation's assets in 2023 | $10 billion |
| Parent organisation's research budget in 2006 | $33 million |
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What You'll Learn
Origins of Shriners International
Shriners International, formerly known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (AAONMS), is an American Masonic society founded in 1872 in New York City. The organisation is headquartered in Tampa, Florida, and has nearly 200 chapters across six continents, with a global membership of nearly 1.7 million "Shriners".
The origins of Shriners International can be traced back to 1870 when a group of 13 Masons began meeting regularly at the Knickerbocker Cottage in New York City. Among them were Walter Fleming, M.D., and Billy Florence, a well-known actor. Florence, inspired by an Arabian-themed party he attended in Marseilles, France, suggested that the new fraternity they were forming adopt a Near-Eastern theme. This decision influenced the imagery, attire, activities, and naming conventions of the fraternity, which are still in use today. For example, Shriners wear distinctive red fezzes as their official headgear, and local Shrine Centres have names like Egypt, Sahara, Morocco, and Oasis.
The Shriners International fraternity is based on fun, fellowship, and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth. The organisation describes itself as a global fraternity, helping good men become better leaders, husbands, fathers, friends, and community contributors. Shriners International is also known for its philanthropic efforts, dating back to its earliest days. During a yellow fever epidemic in Jacksonville, Florida, Shriners and Masonic Knights Templar worked long hours to help the sick. In 1889, fraternity members came to the aid of flood victims in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
In 1922, Shriners International established Shriners Hospitals for Children, now commonly known as Shriners Children's, as its official philanthropy. The first Shriners Hospital was constructed in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1922, and the organisation has since grown to become one of the largest pediatric subspecialty healthcare systems in the world, with locations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
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Philanthropy and charitable efforts
One notable example of their early charitable efforts was during a yellow fever epidemic in Jacksonville, Florida, where local Shriners and Masonic Knights Templar worked tirelessly to aid those affected by the disease. In 1889, fraternity members also provided aid to flood victims in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. These acts of charity set a precedent for the organisation's future endeavours.
The idea for Shriners Hospitals for Children emerged in 1919 when Imperial Potentate Freeland Kendrick proposed establishing a hospital to provide free medical care for children with orthopedic conditions. This proposal evolved into the creation of a comprehensive healthcare system across North America, ensuring that children in need could access specialised care regardless of their families' financial situation.
The first Shriners Hospital was constructed in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1922. It was strategically located in an underserved city surrounded by farming communities. The hospital's services included pediatric orthopaedics, addressing conditions such as scoliosis, clubfoot, and hip dysplasia. Over time, the Shriners Hospitals network expanded, with additional locations opening in Philadelphia, Chicago, Texas, and other parts of the United States.
Shriners Hospitals for Children has consistently prioritised charitable efforts and patient-centred care. They have provided transportation for patients and their families, ensuring access to their facilities across the country. Additionally, they have adapted their services to meet the changing needs of their patients, such as establishing burn care facilities in the 1960s and expanding their offerings to include cleft lip and palate programs, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, and sports injury care.
Today, Shriners Hospitals for Children, also known as Shriners Children's, continues its legacy of philanthropy. With assets of over $10 billion as of 2023, the healthcare system maintains its commitment to serving children and families, regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status. The organisation's dedication to charitable efforts has had a significant impact on the lives of children across North America, providing specialised care and improving their quality of life.
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The first Shriners Hospital
Shriners Hospitals for Children, commonly known as Shriners Children's, is a network of non-profit children's hospitals and paediatric medical facilities across North America. The Shriners, or Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, is a Freemasonry-related organisation with a history of philanthropic efforts.
In 1919, Imperial Potentate Freeland Kendrick proposed establishing a hospital to provide free medical care for children with orthopaedic conditions. A committee concluded that, instead of a single hospital, a healthcare system should be established to provide paediatric orthopaedic care across North America.
In 1922, construction began on the first Shriners Hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana. Shreveport was an underserved city surrounded by farming communities. The hospital's first physician saw patients in an office in town during construction. The predecessor building, the Old Shriners Children's Hospital, was also called the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children and was listed on the US National Register of Historic Places.
The Philadelphia Shriners Hospital was dedicated on 24 June 1926 by former Mayor of Philadelphia, W. Freeland Kendrick. The Chicago Shriners Hospital opened in March 1926. By November, the hospital had received 210 applications, its 60 beds were filled to capacity, and 56 patients had been discharged.
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Expansion and development
Shriners Hospitals for Children, also known as Shriners Children's, is a network of non-profit children's hospitals and paediatric medical facilities across North America. The hospitals are owned and operated by Shriners International, formally known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. The organisation was started by a group of 13 Freemasons in New York City in 1870.
In 1919, Imperial Potentate Freeland Kendrick proposed establishing a hospital to provide free medical care for children with orthopaedic conditions. However, a committee concluded that instead of a single hospital, an entire healthcare system should be established to provide paediatric orthopaedic care across North America. This vision led to the construction of the first Shriners Hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1922. Shreveport was chosen due to its underserved population and surrounding farming communities.
The Shriners Children's Hospital in Philadelphia was dedicated on 24 June 1926 by former Mayor of Philadelphia and Shriner W. Freeland Kendrick. In 1980, this hospital pioneered the nation's first paediatric spinal cord injury rehabilitation program. The hospital moved to its current location in North Philadelphia in 1998, becoming attached to Temple Children's Hospital to offer more comprehensive care.
The Chicago hospital, with 60 beds, opened in March 1926. By November of that year, the hospital was at full capacity. In 1979, construction began on a new building due to a 200% increase in applications over the previous two decades. The new building was completed in 1981, featuring an intensive care unit and a specialised recovery unit. In 1983, Chicago's paediatric spinal cord injury program opened, helping young people with spinal injuries create functional lives.
In 1920, the Arabia Temple opened the "Crippled Children's Clinic" in Houston, Texas, which eventually became a freestanding hospital specialising in orthopaedic conditions. In 1966, Shriners opened the first of four children's burn care facilities in the United States on Galveston Island, recognising the growing need for such care. In 2021, the Houston and Galveston hospitals consolidated to become Shriners Children's Texas, providing comprehensive care for burn injuries, orthopaedic conditions, and cleft lip and palate.
In 2009, despite a significant decline in their endowment due to economic factors, the CEO of Shriners Hospitals, Douglas Maxwell, expressed confidence in the hospital system's long-term solvency. Maxwell also announced that some facilities might transition to outpatient surgical centres and begin accepting insurance payments for the first time.
In 2015, Shriners Hospitals for Children became a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, joining a national network committed to better serving patients through physician collaboration.
Today, Shriners Children's continues to expand its specialties, offering burn care, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, cleft lip and palate treatment, sports injury care, and various other services. With assets exceeding $10 billion in 2023, Shriners Children's remains dedicated to providing innovative and compassionate care that improves the quality of life for children and their families.
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Shriners Children's Texas
The history of Shriners Children's Texas dates back to the early 1960s. In 1963, the "Shriners Burns Institute" began operating in a seven-bed ward in the John Sealy Hospital, the teaching hospital for the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB). This decision came after visiting 21 university-based medical institutions. At the same time, a specialised Shriner's Burns Hospital was being constructed on land adjacent to the university, donated by the Sealy & Smith Foundation. The institute moved into the new hospital building in 1966.
By the late 1980s, the Shriners organisation considered replacing the ageing hospital. They planned to combine the Galveston hospital with their orthopedic children's hospital in nearby Houston and relocate to the Texas Medical Center. However, the Sealy & Smith Foundation and the Moody Foundation offered substantial financial support if the hospital remained in Galveston. As a result, the Shriners decided to stay, and in 1989, construction began on a new eight-story hospital tower. The new hospital was completed and occupied in 1992. It featured 30 beds, three operating rooms, a 163-seat auditorium, research and rehabilitation facilities, and a skywalk linking it to UTMB's John Sealy and Children's hospitals.
In 2008, the hospital was damaged by Hurricane Ike. Initially, there were plans to mothball the facility due to the high cost of repairs, but the Shriners National Convention voted to repair and reopen the hospital in Galveston. The hospital reopened in 2009, but the cleft lip program was relocated to the Shriners Orthopaedic Hospital for Children in Houston. In 2020, it was announced that the Houston hospital would close, and staff and programs would transfer to the Galveston hospital. The merger was expected to be completed by the end of 2020, with the Houston hospital closing in early 2021.
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Frequently asked questions
Construction of the first Shriners Hospital began in 1922 in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Shriners was started by a group of 13 Freemasons in New York City in 1870. The group often discussed forming a new fraternity for Masons, based on the principles of Freemasonry but with added elements of fun and fellowship. The exotic style of an Arabian-themed party attended by one of the members, Billy Florence, an actor, inspired the theme of the new fraternity. The emblem, costumes, and the red fez hats were designed by Dr. Walter Fleming and other members of the group.
Shriners Hospitals for Children, commonly known as Shriners Children's, is a network of non-profit hospitals and pediatric medical facilities across North America. They provide a wide range of treatments, including pediatric orthopaedics, burn care, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, cleft lip and palate correction, and sports injury care.
The Sacramento hospital is the only hospital in the Shriners system that focuses on burns, orthopaedics, and spinal cord injuries, as well as research. It also has its own orthotics and prosthetics lab and development facilities.
