One hundred years ago, the original Northern California hospital opened on June 16, 1923, in San Francisco as a provider of specialized pediatric orthopedics. The Nobles of Shriners International were the founding donors. They committed themselves to raising the funding necessary to provide each patient with the care needed to pursue life as a successful, independent adult. A lot has changed in the past century.

Our Sacramento hospital serves the region’s children with a scope of care previously unimaginable. We treat children for acute burns, traumatic injuries, cleft lip, bladder and bowel disorders, and chest wall anomalies, in addition to a broad range of complex orthopedic or neuromusculoskeletal conditions that include spina bifida and cerebral palsy. Specialists at Shriners Children’s have led advances in treatment that benefit patients locally as well as children around the world.

Shriners Children’s Northern California has also benefited from an expanded philanthropic network that includes people from all walks of life. We could not answer every request for help with “yes” without the generous men and women whose contributions enable us to admit every child who would benefit from our care without regard for a family’s ability to pay.

A new year begins a new century for Shriners Children’s Northern California. When dawn breaks on Jan. 1, there are families celebrating the New Year who will unexpectedly need help from Shriners Children’s Northern California in 2024. Our ability to say “yes” in the New Year and beyond continues to depend on generous people in the community — whether through outright gifts, support of community events, or participation in business fundraising promotions. Our “gift of care” is really your gift to patients of Shriners Children’s. The help we offer is really your offer of a helping hand. Thank you.