The Shrine of North America

The Shrine of North America is an international fraternity with members throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Founded in New York City in 1872, the organization is composed of 32nd degree Scottish Rite Masons and Knights Templar York Rite Masons.

The Shrine is best know for its colorful parades, its distinctive red fez, and its official philanthropy, Shriners Hospitals for Children, which is often called "the heart and soul of the Shrine."

The Shrine founded Shriners Hospitals in 1922, with the opening of the first Shriners Hospital in Shreveport, Louisiana. Today there are 19 orthopaedic Shriners Hospitals and three Shriners Hospitals for children with burns throughout North America.

All 22 Shriners Hospitals provide expert orthopaedic or burn care to children up to their 18th birthday. There is never a charge to the patient, parent or any third party for any service or medical treatment received at Shriners Hospitals.

Eligibility
Shriners Hospitals accept and treat any child up to their 18th birthday if, in the opinion of the hospital chief of staff, the child can be helped, and if treatment at another facility would place a financial burden on the family. Shriners Hospitals are open to all children without regard to race, religion or relationship to a Shriner.

For more information
General admission information for Shriners Hospitals can be obtained by calling one of the toll-free information numbers Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern time.

United States: 1-800-237-5055
Canada: 1-800-361-7256

Emergency admissions for burns
The sooner a burned child reaches a Shriners Burns Institute, the better his chances of recovery. In an EMERGENCY, the referring physician should telephone the chief of staff at the nearest Shriners Burns Institute and indicate that the patient needs emergency care.

The Shriners Burns Institutes are located in:
(emergency numbers)
Boston, Massachusetts 617-722-3000
Cincinnati, Ohio 513-872-6000
Galveston, Texas 409-770-6600

This information is supplied as a public service by Shriners Burns Institutes. For more information on this and other burn prevention topics write to:

Public Relations Department
International Shrine Headquarters
P.O. Box 31356
Tampa, Florida 33631-3356