We’re a reflection of a century of groundbreaking philanthropy and caring for kids,” says Alan Anderson, director of development for Shriners Children’s Northern California. “We’re celebrating the founding of our original hospital 100 years ago and all of the advancements and lives saved and improved throughout those 100 years.”
Shriners Children’s Northern California’s original hospital opened in San Francisco in 1923, offering 50 beds to pediatric orthopedic patients whose families could not afford medical care. In those earliest days, Shriners were the original donors, fundraisers and sources of patient referrals, and the doctors, the very best in the business, donated their time from private practices. Care was eventually opened to all children based on age parameters and medical need, regardless of family income.
Today, the Northern California hospital has evolved into a multidisciplinary hospital which includes treatment for acute burns, acute in-patient rehabilitation and pediatric surgery in addition to pediatric orthopedics. Physicians are directly employed and still provide the highest caliber of care. Located in Sacramento since 1997, Shriners Children’s Northern California sees patients from throughout Northern California, western North America and beyond. In 2022, kids from 34 U.S. states and territories were treated.
“As the founders, original donors and fundraisers, the Shriners have always been at the philanthropic heart of this organization and they continue that support today within much broader fundraising.” — Alan Anderson Director of Development
“Generations of individuals can attribute their quality of life directly to Shriners and the referrals that got them the care they needed,” Anderson says. “As the founders, original donors and fundraisers, the Shriners have always been at the philanthropic heart of this organization and they continue that support today within much broader fundraising. Generations of Shriners also dedicated their estates, building an endowment fund that enables us to operate through economic ups and downs.”
One hundred years in, Shriners Children’s Northern California is still a philanthropic powerhouse, now saving and bettering the lives of the widest possible array of kids and still offering the highest-quality care.
