Shriners International is one of the oldest and largest fraternities in the world. With more than 400,000 members in North America, the organization is divided into 193 Temples, or chapters, in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Panama. We are dedicated to leadership, personal growth, family, and supporting our philanthropy, Shriners Hospitals for Children.
History
Founded as a Masonic fraternity in 1870, the organization was first known as “The Imperial Council of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.” The official name has changed to Shriners International, although references to “A.A.O.N.M.S.” are still prevalent. The fraternity was created as an organization for Masons, stressing the importance of fun and fellowship. As the organization grew during the early part of the 20th century, a greater emphasis on philanthropy emerged.
Philanthropy
The first Shriners Hospital for Children opened in 1922, and today we operate a network of specialized orthopedic and burn hospitals for children. These 22 hospitals located throughout North America provide free orthopedic and burn care to children from infancy through the 18th year, regardless of race, religion, or relationship to a Shriner. The Shrine accepts no funds from patients, their families, or any third party, such as a government, social, health, or insurance agencies.