The Shriners of North America was born in the late 19th century from a group of Masons who were interested in starting a new kind of fraternity focused on service rather than status. Starting predominantly as a social group, the Shriners quickly transformed into a strong philanthropic organization. By the turn of the century, the group's popularity had spread dramatically, and today there are over 410,000 Shriners across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Republic of Panama.

Part of the Shriners vision is to create a safe haven for children who need medical care. Today, there are 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children, eighteen of them specializing in orthopedic care, three catering to burn victims, and one providing orthopedic, burn, and spinal cord injury care. More than 600,000 children have been substantially helped or cured completely at no cost to parents since the first hospital opened in 1922. In the late 1800s, San Antonio members began lobbying for a Shrine Temple of their own, and it was finally built in 1916. The 139th temple to be chartered by the Supreme Council, the Temple has gone through various stages, and the original building was sold in 1981, along with the land on which it sat. The Temple we know today was constructed in 1983, the 57th largest Shrine Temple in the world.

With major monetary support from members and outside donors, The Shriners Hospitals are able to keep up with the latest in technology and surgical developments. They have a specific vision of their future in medicine, not only for burn victims, but for patients suffering from all types of illnesses, birth defects, and traumas. Because of these generous donations, the hospitals can provide children's care at discounted rates, or completely free.

Interested in becoming part of the fraternity? To become a Shriner, you must first be a Master Mason. If you are not yet a member of a Masonic Lodge, visit the Grand Lodge of Texas website for more information and to find the Lodge nearest you. Other ways you can help can be found at www.donate2shc.org. For more information about the Alzafar Shriners, please visit www.alzafar.org