Golfing for a Cause: The Shriners Hospitals for Children

Author: Vivianne Lapointe
Posted on: Wednesday October 14, 2009 at 8:00 AM
Filed under: exclusive, shriners hospitals for children, volunteers

While it is amazing to spend the week watching some of the best players in the world unleash their slick skills, (get excited for today's Championship Pro-Am!), it is critical to understand the reason behind all this action: Shriners Hospitals For Children. What we've learned first hand in talking with the volunteers here is Shriners' mission is distinct to any other charity and its impact truly inspirational.

Upon arrival on the golf course on Monday morning, we were instantly fascinated with Shriners' volunteers' funky famed hat, best known as a fez (See picts below!) Hence, we started chatting with a few volunteers who kindly led us to their trailer emblazoned with the Shriners Hospitals logo and proceeded to enlighten us about the history Shriners Hospitals for Children: 22 hospitals worldwide offering highly specialized care for children up to 18 years old... at no cost!

With the opening of a first hospital in Louisiana in 1922, this health care system originally started off to treat orthopedic conditions caused by polio. After a vaccine was developped, the Shriners decided to continue to devote time and money to the cause of children's health. They now specialize in pediatric orthopedics, burns, spinal cord injuries and cleft lip and palate (the hardcore stuff that can make a family who doesn't have insurance literally go broke.)

Inside the trailer, passionate volunteers told us a little more about the organization's mission. At the base of it all, the Shriners understand the impact of a comfortable environment on the healing of children. The hospitals don't look or smell or feel like one. Treatment rooms feature Barney and Spiderman-inspired examination tables, in order to offer kids a whimsical rather than traumatizing experience. Staff gets involved with families. There is no cash register except at the cafeteria, and the food is apparently cheap and delicious. In short, it is unlike any hospital we'd ever heard of!

Justin himself is the first one to acknowledge and commend this distinction: "There are so many charity events out there, and you'll often see philanthropists giving away tons of money on a nice piece of art, but then not know where that money is actually going. It's moving to know that the money we're raising this week is going directly to the kids," said Justin at the JT Shriners Open press conference held at the TPC Summerlin golf course on Tuesday.

500 or so volunteers will be dedicating their time and efforts during this week's tournament. They're Shriners people as well as family members of patients who have been helped, and just want to give back. "When you see all of the tournament's volunteers in one big group, you realize it takes a lot of people to get big things done," Justin added.

"Health care is a hot topic right now, and here we are, talking about free healthcare for anyone under 18. My goal is to start growing this tournament into a tradition blending charity, the game of golf and entertainment," Justin concluded.

You can find out more about Shriners HERE.

Also, you can follow the Shriners Hospital for Children on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

As for more on the tournament? Stay tuned to Justintimberlake.com or check out JTshrinersopen.com!

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