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The organization was previously known as “Shriners North America”. The name was changed in 2010 across North America, Central America, South America, Europe, and Southeast Asia.The report included accusations of financial improprieties within the organization, including not reporting benefits Shriners leaders received as income and knowingly filing incorrect tax forms for the hospitals. Other Shriners came forward with additional complaints, including the mixing of charitable and noncharitable assets and the disappearance of money raised for the hospitals.

Until June 2012, all care at Shriners Hospitals was provided without charge to patients and their families. At that time, because the size of their endowment had decreased due to losses in the stock market, Shriners Hospitals started billing patients’ insurance companies, but continued to offer free care to children without insurance. Shriners hospitals waive all costs insurance does not cover. Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Shriners International, formally known as the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (AAONMS), is an American Masonic society established in 1870 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida.

While on tour in Marseille, Florence, an actor, was invited to a party given by an Arab diplomat. The entertainment was a musical comedy. At its conclusion, the guests became members of a secret society. Florence took notes and drawings at his initial viewing and on two other occasions, once in Algiers and once in Cairo. When he returned to New York in 1870, he showed his material to Fleming.

The Ladies Oriental Shrine of North America was founded in 1903 in Wheeling, West Virginia, and the Daughters of the Nile was founded in 1913 in Seattle, Washington. The latter organization has local branches called “Temples”, and there were ten of these in 1922. Among the famous members of the Daughters of the Nile was First Lady Florence Harding, wife of Warren G. Harding.

In 1991, brick-mason Michael G. Vaughan filed a lawsuit against the Oleika Shrine Temple in Lexington, Kentucky, for hazing practices to which he said he was subjected in his efforts to become a Shriner. In court, Vaughan told jurors that in June 1989, he was blindfolded and received a jolt of electricity that was applied to his bare buttocks as part of the Shriners’ initiation rites. He said he was forced to walk on an electric mat that was meant to simulate the hot sands of the Sahara, and that he was knocked unconscious and received other injuries during his initiation.

Vaughan said the initiation left him humiliated and embarrassed, and caused him to suffer anxiety, nightmares, and a sleep disorder. After two hours of deliberation, the jury rejected the claim.

Any child under the age of 18 can be admitted to the hospital if a doctor determines the child can be treated. There is no requirement for religion, race or relationship to a Shriner.In June 1920, the Imperial Council Session voted to establish a Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children to treat orthopedic injuries and conditions, diseases, burns, spinal cord injuries, and birth defects, such as cleft lip and palate, in children. The first hospital opened in 1922 in Shreveport, Louisiana. By the end of the decade 13 more hospitals were operational.

In 1893, a black counterpart to the Shriners movement was initiated by John G. Jones and other Prince Hall masons, initially called The Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order Nobles Mystic Shrine of North and South America and Its Jurisdictions. Early in the group’s history, there was legal conflict between the white and black orders, with a white order from Texas filing suit against a local black order for infringement of white Shriners regalia and traditions. The white order was initially successful in quashing the black temple until the ruling was overturned in appeals in 1929, protecting the right of black Shriners to continue practicing and fundraising nationwide. The Worldwide Fraternal Shrine Family counts 35,000 members in 227 shrines, with its own women’s auxiliary organizations. Their primary recipients of charitable donations are the NAACP, The Urban League, the UNCF, and various hospitals and universities.By 1938 there were about 340,000 members in the United States. That year, Life published photographs of the Shriners’ rites. It described the Shriners as being the first in prestige, wealth and show among secret societies, and that Shriners organizations typically include a town’s most prominent citizens.

Some of the earliest Shrine Centers often chose a Moorish Revival style for their Temples. Architecturally notable Shriners Temples include: the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles; the former Mecca Temple, now called New York City Center and used primarily as a concert hall; Newark Symphony Hall; the Landmark Theater (formerly The Mosque) in Richmond, Virginia; the Tripoli Shrine Temple in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; the Polly Rosenbaum Building (formerly the El Zaribah Shrine Auditorium) in Phoenix; the Helena Civic Center (Montana) (formerly the Algeria Shrine Temple); Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque in Springfield, Missouri; Murat Shrine Temple (now Old National Center) in Indianapolis; the Fox Theatre (Atlanta, Georgia) which was jointly built between the Atlanta Shriners and movie mogul William Fox; and the Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Shriners International describes itself as a fraternity based on fun, fellowship, and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth. There are about 200 temples across North America, South America, Europe and Southeast Asia. The organization founded the Shriners Hospitals for Children.The group adopted a Middle Eastern theme and soon established Temple, although the term Temple has now been replaced by Shrine Auditorium or Shrine Center. The first Temple established was Mecca Temple, established at the New York City Masonic Hall on September 26, 1872. Fleming was the first potentate. There are two organizations tied to the Shrine that are for women only: The Ladies’ Oriental Shrine and the Daughters of the Nile. They both support the Shriners Hospitals and promote sociability, and membership in either organization is open to any woman 18 years of age and older who is related to a Shriner or Master Mason by birth or marriage. OI is a genetic disorder that leads to weak bones, meaning they can break easily. Symptoms can range from mild to severe; some people with OI may only break a few bones over their lifetime, while others may break hundreds.

A sports fan, Cabacungan plays wheelchair basketball, interviews athletes and has appeared on sports shows such as TNT. He is also a college freshman, studying journalism.Fox News anchor Chris Wallace described Cabacungan as “the face of Shriners.” Speaking to the broadcaster on March 14, Cabacungan said: “All of a sudden, people were coming up to me, I’m like 12 at the time, I was panicking, I was like ‘who are all these people, how do they know me?'”The National Institute of Health (NIH) lists eight different types of OI that are most often diagnosed. They vary in terms of symptom severity. In type I OI, there tends to be mild or no bone deformity and no or slight changes to stature, though bones can break from mild to moderate trauma. Others, such as type III, are more severe and lead to small stature, loose joints, and easily broken bones.Such changes or defects can lead to a lack of type I collagen being produced, or type I collagen being formed improperly. This can lead to bones that break more easily.In most people OI is caused by a change in the genes that are responsible for making type I collagen in the body. Type I collagen helps with bone formation and strength.Although there is no cure for OI, treatment such as physical therapy, bone-strengthening medicine, and surgery are available as well as aids that can help people with the condition to move around safely.

It is rare, occurring in roughly 1 in every 15,000 people born, according to the Brittle Bone Society. Anyone can be born with OI, but it is more likely to occur in people who have family members who also have the condition.Alec Cabacungan, an 18-year-old student and sports fan known for appearing in commercials for the Shriners Children’s Hospital network, has spoken out about his journey and living with brittle bone disease.

“I just hope people realize that people with disabilities aren’t different than anyone else,” he says. “We have feelings, we have a heart, and we shouldn’t be treated differently just because we look different. I hope that’s OK to say. That’s how I go about my life.

And, to me, they were superheroes. I always knew I wasn’t gonna be seven feet tall and jump out at the gym. But my dad and I, we played a lot of games at home, and he always wanted me to be at my best. Sports was always a way for us to bond.” He’s even met some of his idols, including Tiger Woods, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Zion Williamson and Brett Favre.I’ve met some pretty amazing people,” he says. “The little kid in me always gets excited.” Cabacungan hopes one day to work for a major network, “call an NBA game, cover the Super Bowl.” But he’d especially love to cover the Paralympics. “I would like to see more people with disabilities cover the Paralympics because I’m not the only person with a physical disability who wants to do sports journalism.There was no bullying. I had a great support group, from students to faculty to parents, who always looked out for me. I mean, it was tough at times, being the only kid in school in a wheelchair, but they never made me feel out of place. “I always hung out with the sports kids, and they always made me feel awesome,” he says.Mia Williams is a 15-year old high school student from Glen Carbon, Illinois who is passionate about singing and acting. Not only has she acted in local and regional productions, but for the past three years she has been featured in many local and national commercials for Shriners Hospitals for Children.Another Masonic group, the Mysterious Order of the Veiled Prophet of the Enchanted Realm (known colloquially as the “Grotto”), adopted a similar theme in 1890. The Middle Eastern theme was popular at the time and alluded to the mystery and ceremony of the Arabian Nights, with its elaborate parties and frolic.

While on tour in Marseilles, France, Florence was invited to a party given by an Arabian diplomat. The entertainment was something in the nature of an elaborately staged musical comedy. At its conclusion, the guests became members of a secret society. Florence, recalling the conversations at the Knickerbocker Cottage, realized that this might well be the vehicle for the new fraternity. Dr. Walter Millard Fleming was a prominent physician and surgeon. Born in 1838, he obtained a degree in medicine in Albany, New York, in 1862. During the American Civil War, he was a surgeon with the 13th New York Infantry Brigade of the National Guard.

Alec has raised the awareness for Shriners tremendously. It takes someone like Alec who’s got that great, feisty personality.” In addition to the commercials (which often co-star Montreal-based Kaleb-Wolf De Melo Torres, his pal and “little brother,” whom he calls “King Kaleb”), Cabacungan and his parents Alma and Gill Cabacungan travel the country on behalf of Shriners.

In Freemasonry, there is no higher degree than that of Master Mason (the third degree). In many parts of North America, Masonry does not solicit members. In these areas, no one is asked to join, and a man must seek admission of his own free will — he must ask. In some areas, Masons are permitted to solicit new members. “In sixth grade, I found wheelchair sports and got really involved with the Chicago Park District’s adaptive sports programs. From sixth grade on, I played wheelchair basketball and wheelchair softball, and that’s when I really felt like I was part of a team.” These days, he’s focused on college at Northwestern, where he lives in a dorm and drives a specially modified van. Dr. Peter Smith with Alec Cabacungan, who has been his patient at Shriners Children’s Chicago for 19 years. Pat Nabong / Sun-Times “When I was in sixth or seventh grade, someone from administration asked my family and I to participate in a commercial fundraising effort for the hospital,” Cabacungan says. Shrine History – In 1870, several thousand of the 900,000 residents of Manhattan were Masons. Many of these Masons made it a point to lunch at the Knickerbocker Cottage, a restaurant at 426 Sixth Avenue. At a special table on the second floor, a particularly jovial group of Masons used to meet regularly. 1870 New York. The Masons who gathered at this table were noted for their good humor and wit. They often discussed the idea of a new fraternity for Masons, in which fun and fellowship would be stressed more than ritual. Two of the table regulars, Walter M.

Peter Smith, Cabacungan’s longtime physician and surgeon at Shriners. “He was born with fractures and bowing of the long bones of his arms and legs. So he required lots of splinting and casting when he was younger and subsequently surgery on most of the long bones of his body to put in intramedullary rods to make the bones stronger.

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Causes of Osteogenesis Imperfecta – A mutation or change in a gene causes OI. Genes carry information that determines which features are passed to you from your parents. We have two copies of most of our genes, one from each parent. In the most common forms, people with OI have a gene that carries incorrect instructions in one copy of the gene for making collagen, a substance that makes bones strong. Fleming took the ideas supplied by Florence and converted them into what would become the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S.). While there is some question about the origin of the Fraternity’s name, it is probably more than coincidence that its initials, rearranged, spell out the words “A MASON.” The group adopted a Middle Eastern theme and soon established “Temples” meeting in “Mosques” across the continent. Alec Cabacungan wants to be a sports broadcaster. It’s been his dream for as long as the 19-year-old Oak Park resident can recall. Talking with him, you can sense his fighting spirit will make it happen, the spirit that has gotten him through a lifetime of surgeries and physical therapy.One of the symptoms of Alec Cabacungan’s condition, osteogenesis imperfecta, is the underdevelopment of bones including the jaw, which can lead to missing or incompletely formed teeth. Alec, like many people suffering from this disease, has fragile bones, which are not able to grow well and curl. This also applies to his teeth, as they are similar in structure to other bones in the skeleton. Alec’s jaw is underdeveloped and molars are missing or incompletely formed. For a full life, Alec uses dentures, which are prosthetic devices designed to replace missing teeth. Dentures can help people with missing or underdeveloped teeth to eat, speak, and smile with confidence, like Alec. Alec’s dentures are custom-made to fit his mouth comfortably and securely, and they are adjusted as needed to ensure a good fit. Alec Cabacungan is a spokesperson for Shriners Children’s Hospital, known for his inspiring story of overcoming a rare genetic disorder called osteogenesis imperfecta. His story was featured in a commercial campaign for Shriners, which helped to raise awareness about the hospital and its services. As a result of this campaign and other endeavors, Alec’s net worth is estimated to be around 7 million dollars. He is a living proof that with the right support and determination anything is possible.A: Alec received treatment at Shriners Children’s Hospital, which included surgery, physical therapy, and other treatments, that helped him to strengthen his bones and improve his mobility.

Alec’s parents have been there for him every step of the way, providing him with the love, support, and encouragement he needed to overcome his condition and lead a fulfilling life. They are an inspiration to others, showing that with the right support and determination, anything is possible. Their love and support have been instrumental in Alec’s journey, they truly are the backbone of his success.

Alec’s story has been used to inspire others who are facing similar challenges. The commercial campaign has been successful in reaching a wide audience and has helped to raise funds for the hospital, enabling them to continue providing vital services to children in need.Alec shares his story and promotes the hospital’s services as a spokesperson for the hospital, he was featured in a commercial campaign for Shriners which helped to raise awareness about the hospital.

Alec Cabacungan’s story has become a powerful tool in the Shriners Children’s Hospital’s commercial campaign. Alec, who was born with the rare genetic disorder osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as weak bone disease, has received treatment from Shriners hospitals for children. The hospital has played a vital role in helping Alec overcome his condition and lead a fulfilling life.Currently, Alec is living a normal life just like any other 20-year-old. He is able to walk, run, and engage in physical activities. He is also able to attend school and has graduated from high school. Alec is now in college and pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor. He wants to help other children who are facing similar challenges as he did.

Despite the hardships he faced, Alec never gave up. His story is a reminder to us all that with the right support and care, anything is possible. His determination, positive attitude, and the help he received from Shriners Children’s Hospital have made him a shining example of strength and perseverance.Alec Cabacungan is a spokesperson for Shriners Children’s Hospital, known for his inspiring story of overcoming a rare genetic disorder called osteogenesis imperfecta, or weak bone disease.

Despite the challenges, Alec was determined to live his life to the fullest. He knew that the only way to achieve this was through proper medical treatment, and that’s exactly what he got at Shriners Children’s Hospital. The doctors and staff at Shriners were able to provide him with the care and support he needed to overcome his condition and lead a fulfilling life.Alec Cabacungan is a young man who has faced more challenges in his life than most people will ever have to endure. Born with a rare genetic disorder called osteogenesis imperfecta, or weak bone disease, Alec’s bones were extremely fragile and prone to fractures. This condition made it difficult for him to live a normal life and engage in the activities that most children take for granted.As he grew older, Alec realized that his story could help others who were facing similar challenges. He decided to become a spokesperson for Shriners Children’s Hospital, sharing his story and promoting the hospital’s services. Alec’s inspiring story was featured in a commercial campaign for Shriners, and this helped to raise awareness about the hospital and its mission.Through a combination of surgery, physical therapy, and other treatments, Alec was able to strengthen his bones and improve his mobility. He was also able to attend school and engage in other activities that he had previously been unable to participate in. His determination and positive attitude helped him to overcome the limitations of his condition and achieve things that many thought were impossible.

Alec’s story is one of determination and hope, and it has been used to promote the hospital’s services and raise awareness about the care they provide. In the commercial campaign, Alec shares his personal experience and how the hospital has helped him overcome his condition. He talks about the support he received from the doctors and staff, and how the hospital has helped him to lead a normal life.In addition to being a spokesperson, Alec also has become a role model for many people, showing that with determination and the right support, anything is possible. His story has been an inspiration to many and has helped to raise awareness about the importance of pediatric care.

Alec’s parents did everything they could to ensure that he received the best possible medical care. They spent countless hours researching different treatments and hospitals, and ultimately decided to take him to Shriners Children’s Hospital. The doctors and staff at Shriners were able to provide Alec with the care and support he needed to overcome his condition and lead a fulfilling life.

Alec Cabacungan is the spokesperson for Shriners Children’s Hospital and a renowned guy for bringing attention to the rare condition that he suffers from. If you want to learn about his life, his family, and his net worth, we will discuss all of that in this article. We have compiled all the newest information about Alec, so you will get to know Alec Cabacungan net worth.

Alec is a 19-year old that is known for his passion for sports. He might not be able to play sports, but he likes to know everything about them. Alec also co-hosted the NBA inside TNT around four years ago. He also interviewed many footballers and is well-known in the sports community.

His dad is Gil Cabacungan, and his mum is Alma Cabacungan, and they are very proud of their only son. Along with Alec, the family has three other daughters, Juliana, Isabella, and Kirsten. Alec is their fourth and last kid.When he was born, his parents knew something was off about their son but chose to ignore the warning signs. When they finally went to the hospital, Alec was diagnosed with brittle bone disease, and in 2012 he decided to appear in a commercial for the Shriners Children’s Hospital. Even after breaking his bones more than 60 times in his lifetime, he is still optimistic.

There is not much information about his net worth of Alec, but it is estimated that he will have around $1 to 5 million USD in 2021. His financial condition in 2022 is still unknown. He mainly makes money by appearing in commercials for the hospital, but he also appears in many YouTube videos, which help him make more money.He got his fame for representing this rare disorder in advertisements for the Shriners Children’s Hospital. He owns an Instagram account by the name @aleccabungan with over 10 thousand followers. That is a remarkable number of followers, considering he posts rarely.

There is no information about Alec’s height and weight because it would be insensitive to ask such things. He is a young boy who is fighting a disease that requires surgeries, and he also uses a wheelchair. He is not the strongest physically due to the disease that he suffers from. However, Alec is trying his best to stay healthy and eat good food.Alec is still young and does not have a wife or children. His dating life is also not known by the public. Although pretty famous, Alec still likes to maintain his privacy when it comes to stuff like this. Alec was born with a rare genetic disorder by the name osteogenesis imperfecta, or weak bone disease. This is an inherited genetic disorder in which the bones are very weak and break easily, the bones are not formed properly, and there are many other symptoms. Alec is a young man that mostly keeps his life private. Despite a bright future, he likes not to reveal too much about his personal life in interviews and videos.Thanks to the outstanding care and innovative treatment Alec receives at the Chicago Shriners Hospital, his muscles are strengthening and his bones are breaking less often. This provides Alec with more opportunities to indulge in his passion for sports.

Knowing that Alec hopes to be a sports broadcaster someday, the hospital staff has done what it can to encourage faith in that dream. During the NFL Draft weeks in 2015, 2016 and 2017, patients of Shriners Hospitals for Children had the chance to experience the excitement of the draft first-hand when players visited during a Prospect Community Visit. During these events, Alec was given the opportunity to conduct interviews with NFL Draft prospects, which were featured on the NFL website. Alec also created a web-based sports show, Smart Alec on Sports, to follow his dream of being a sports anchor/broadcaster.Alec lives in the suburbs of Chicago, and is quite the active teenager. From playing wheelchair softball and basketball, to assistant coaching tee-ball, he loves just about any sport. However, because he has osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), also known as brittle bone disease, Alec’s approach to his favorite activities is a little different.“Without Shriners Hospitals for Children, I wouldn’t be able to dream as big as I do,” said Alec. “I know anything is possible because the staff remind me all the time that I can do whatever I set my mind to. I live a full life because of Shriners Hospitals.”

Thanks to the health care system’s focus on improving the quality of life of patients and families, Alec has developed a level of confidence that has opened up a world of opportunities.Great! This will be fun. If you have a specific fundraiser in mind, the sky’s the limit. Select an option below and start your fundraising page today and show the world that YOU fundraise For the Love Of…. Over the years, Alec has been a tremendous voice for Shriners Hospitals for Children, and has appeared in numerous national commercials, representing the many patients whose lives have been changed forever by the health care system. He has also been a featured guest on many television shows, sharing his appreciation everywhere he goes. Please select the Shriners Hospital you would like to fundraise for, or select “Shriners Hospitals for Children” to apply funds where they are most needed.You may recognize 16-year-old Alec from the various commercials for Shriners Hospitals for Children that have aired nationally. Alec, a patient of Shriners Hospitals for Children — Chicago, has become a popular television star, been interviewed on numerous national news and talk shows, and has captured the hearts of many with his adorable smile and charming personality.

OI is a genetic bone disorder characterized by fragile bones that can frequently and easily break, which can make it hard for Alec to participate in sports. The underlying cause of OI is a lack of collagen – or abnormal collagen – in the bones that prevents them from absorbing appropriate minerals and developing correctly.In May 2018, the Chicago Shriners Hospital dedicated their indoor basketball court to Alec, naming it “Alec’s Court.” Alec has also received several awards, including the 2017-2018 Shriners International Imperial Potentate’s Medallion and 2018 Most Inspirational Award at the Fourth Annual Night of Champions sponsored by Oak Park, Illinois’ Wednesday Journal. He was also on national championship teams for the National Wheelchair Junior Basketball Championships in 2015, and the National Wheelchair Junior Softball Championships in 2015 and 2016. Alec has traveled extensively to represent Shriners Hospitals for Children, including to the East-West Game, Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, Tournament of Roses Parade, Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic and Shriners International Imperial Session. At the 2018 East-West Shrine Game, Alec had the opportunity to be on-camera in the NFL Network announcer booth during the game and to attend team practices. He has also been an honored speaker at many events for both the health care system and fraternity, Shriners International. Alec has been going to the Chicago Shriners Hospital for treatment since 2002. Since then, he has made great progress thanks to receiving customized treatment from our rehabilitation specialists. Alec receives intravenous (IV) infusions of pamidronate, a medication that slows down the process of bone resorption and improves bone mass. He also routinely visits the hospital for physical therapy, and has had several surgeries.Sports, just about any sport, is his escape. Cabacungan plays so often here, the Shriners even named the court after him. “This place is very special to me,” he said. “I took my first steps on this court. This is home.” He’s been doing so well with his lessons that his parents surprised him with his very own car, giving him the feeling of independence any teen gets, but for Alec, infinitely more. “It was a very emotional moment for us,” Gill said. “We tried for our fourth child, and hopefully it was going to be a son. And when we learned it was a son, and learned that he had a disability, it was quite emotional.”

“Imagine a kid who was told his disability would be a lifelong struggle; now imagine a place where that same kid is told he can do anything. I don’t have to imagine, because that kid is me.”Everything he does he does with gusto, including wheelchair basketball. “It’s the contact, it’s the fast pace, it’s everything you have in sports except just in a wheelchair,” he said. “No limits.”

“I used to be known as just that kid in the wheelchair, and now I’m Alec on the commercials, and that’s special to me,” said 17-year-old Alec Cabacungan of Chicago.”I don’t know too much about what will happen to me in the future,” he said. “But if something bad does happen, I know that we’ll get through it. I know tomorrow is gonna be a better day. And if it’s not, then I can make it a better day.” Shriners, known for their tall crimson hats, is a fraternal brotherhood that’s been doing charity work for more than 150 years. Cabacungan helps spread their mission. With 22 hospitals all around North America, that means he’s on the road about 80 days a year. It’s a demanding job for anyone, let alone someone whose bones are about as fragile as a tea cup. “I’ve broken over 60 bones in my lifetime,” he said. “It’ll be with me for my life. I’ll live with it until I die.” That’s what brought Cabacungan to Shriners in the first place – a rare genetic disorder called Osteogenesis Imperfecta, better known as brittle bone disease. Hard is relative in Alec’s life – always has been. But behind him every step of the way have been his parents, a fact that during one video shoot with his mother and father overwhelmed him, when his grateful heart seemed like it was about to burst. He said, “You wanted the best care, the best doctors, nurses and staff for your baby son. And I just want to tell you guys, I love you mamma, and I love you dad.”

His longtime physician at Shriners in Chicago is orthopedic surgeon Dr. Peter Smith, an expert in brittle bone disease. “I’m healthy right now, so right now we’re staying away from Dr. Smith,” he laughed.

There are few places both as hopeful and as heartbreaking as a children’s hospital, especially around the holidays. While there are many, chances are you may know Shriners Hospitals for Children because of one very special patient.He makes it all look so easy, but of course, none of it really is. “There’s a lot of tough days where I just, I wanna sometimes just give up and I wanna just stop and … it’s hard to live with, but there’s a lotta kids who have more challenges in life, and I’m pretty fortunate.”Alma said, “He doesn’t want to have any special treatment; he wants to be treated like everyone else, and I think that’s probably one of the things he has to fight for the most.”

He’s like any other kid – into video games, and more recently cars. In fact, he’s going for his driver’s license. There are pedal extensions so he can reach the accelerator and the brake, but that’s about it. “My first right turn, I drove into a ditch,” he laughed. “Today’s going to be better, I promise you!”

Brittle bone disease is just what it sounds like. Alec’s bones are so delicate he could crack a rib even with something as simple as a sneeze. Physical therapy helps, but there is no cure.There is never any charge for treatment at a Shriners Hospital. There is no requirement for religion, race, or relationship to a Freemason. Patients must be under the age of eighteen and treatable. Local Shrine temples most often provide free transportation to the nearest hospital. In 2002, a mascot named Fez Head Fred debuted, primarily to visit their children’s hospitals.Fleming was devoted to fraternalism. He became a Mason in Rochester and took some of his Scottish Rite work there, then completed his degrees in New York City. He was coroneted a 33° Scottish Rite Mason on September 19, 1872.In 2005, Shriners Hospitals approved 37,755 new patient applications, attended to the needs of 123,385 patients and provided the following free of charge:

The Masons who gathered at this table were noted for their good humor and wit. They often discussed the idea of a new fraternity for Masons, in which fun and fellowship would be stressed more than ritual. Two of the table regulars, Walter M. Fleming, M.D., and William J. Conlin, an actor with the stage name William J. Florence, took the idea seriously enough to do something about it. Billy Florence, as known by his friends, was a star and world renowned actor. After becoming the toast of the New York stage, he toured London, Europe and Middle Eastern countries, always playing to capacity audiences. While on tour in Marseilles, France, Florence was invited to a party given by an Arabian diplomat. The entertainment was something in the nature of an elaborately staged musical comedy. At its conclusion, the guests became members of a secret society. Fleming took the ideas supplied by Florence and converted them into what would become the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (A.A.O.N.M.S.). While there is some question about the origin of the Fraternity’s name, it is probably more than coincidence that its initials, rearranged, spell out the words “A MASON.”The Shriners are committed to community service and have been instrumental in countless public projects throughout their domain. They also host the annual East-West Shrine Game which is a college football all-star game. Once a year, the fraternity meets for the Shriners Imperial Conference in a major North American city. It is not uncommon for these conventions to have 20,000 participants or more, which generates significant revenue for the local economy.

The Shriners often participate in local parades, sometimes as rather elaborate units: shrines may have one or more whole units of miniature vehicles in themes (all sports cars; all miniature 18-wheeler trucks; all fire engines for instance) of a dozen or two dozen Shriners executing elaborate drills in the mini-vehicles; an “oriental band” dressed in cartoonish versions of Middle Eastern dress; floats, including huge inflatable balloons of Shriners wearing their fezzes — some local mosques actually have all of the above marching in the same parade.

In 1870, several thousand of the 900,000 residents of Manhattan were Masons. Many of these Masons made it a point to lunch at the Knickerbocker Cottage, a restaurant at 426 Sixth Avenue. At a special table on the second floor, a particularly jovial group of Masons used to meet regularly. The group adopted a Middle Eastern theme and soon established “Temples” meeting in “Mosques” across the continent. Another Masonic group, the Mysterious Order of the Veiled Prophet of the Enchanted Realm (known colloquially as the “Grotto”), adopted a similar theme in 1890. The Middle Eastern theme was popular at the time and alluded to the mystery and ceremony of the Arabian Nights, with its elaborate parties and frolic. Shriners Hospitals’ total budget for 2006 is $649 million, of which $616 million is targeted for operating expenses (including $33 million for research) and $33 million for buildings and equipment expenditures. During the 84-year history of the Shriners Hospitals, approximately $7.6 billion has been spent to operate Shriners Hospitals, and over $1.73 billion has been spent on construction and renovation.Despite its Arabic theme, the Shrine is in no way connected to Islam. It is a men’s fraternity rather than a religion or religious group. Its only religious requirement is indirect: all Shriners must be Masons, and petitioners to Freemasonry must profess a belief in a Supreme Being. In order to further minimize any confusion with religion, the use of the word “Temple” to describe Shriners’ buildings has now been replaced by the phrase “Shrine Center.”

Florence, recalling the conversations at the Knickerbocker Cottage, realized that this might well be the vehicle for the new fraternity. He made copious notes and drawings at that initial viewing and on two other occasions when he attended the ceremony, once in Algiers and again in Cairo. When he returned to New York in 1870 and showed his material to Dr. Fleming, Fleming agreed.Dr. Walter Millard Fleming was a prominent physician and surgeon. Born in 1838, he obtained a degree in medicine in Albany, New York, in 1862. During the American Civil War, he was a surgeon with the 13th New York Infantry Brigade of the National Guard. He then practiced medicine in Rochester, New York, until 1868, when he moved to New York City and quickly became a leading practitioner.