A FRATERNAL NEWSLETTER December 2017

ThePublic

RelationsVoice

Yours in the faith,

The Public Relations VoiceA Message From Your Public Relations Chairman

Dear Fellow Nobles,

I’m glad to have this opportunity to wish everyone Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas, and to express my appreciation for all your hard work, efforts and dedication to the missions of Shriners International and Shriners Hospitals for Children®. During this joyous time of year, we hope you’ll take time to enjoy the season, and to be with family and friends, sharing special memories and creating new ones.

Some call this the “Season of Hope.” Hope is one of the most important gifts we can give, and is something many of our patients and families discover while at Shriners Hospitals. What a little hope and confidence can accomplish can be seen in our new DRTV ad (hopefully you will see it sometime over the holidays). In the spot, titled “The 12 Days of Christmas,” patients with prosthetics are performing ballet and a patient missing a hand is playing the piano. These children are learning that challenges can be overcome, and dreams are possible. Every one of us should be incredibly proud of what our health care system helps make possible. Shriners Hospitals for Children – your philanthropy – truly does improve lives and make the world a better place. In case you miss it, here’s a link for a YouTube version: youtube.com/watch?v=tbavHGnKh7w.

Just as our patients can overcome challenges and achieve their goals, we – as Shriners – can, with significant effort, determination and confidence, meet the challenges we face – especially increasing our membership numbers. If you think it can’t be done, and there is no use in expending the energy to raise interest in the fraternity, remember the effort of our patients and what they accomplish in the face of far more daunting obstacles. All each one of us needs to do is try – every day.

That would be a great New Year’s resolution for us: To do something each day to strengthen our membership numbers, which, in turn will strengthen our philanthropy.

As you prepare for the New Year, remember to watch for our float, Caring for Kids Around the World, when you tune in to America’s iconic Rose Parade on New Year’s Day. Participating in this popular event provides tremendous media exposure for us, and the opportunity for countless people to learn more about or discover Shriners Hospitals.

Also, remember the East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 20 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. We look forward to seeing as many nobles and their families at the game. It’s a great time, and an important event for our organizations. So, please come on down and support it. If you can’t make it in person, watch it on NFL Network, or, better yet, get together with your fellow nobles, host a watch party and invite the community. The East-West Shrine Game office has materials to help you hold a successful event. Contact the staff at EastWestShrineGame@shrinenet.org for more information.

Again, we wish you Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas, and a healthy and Happy New Year!

Thank you for your continued commitment and dedication to your fraternity and philanthropy.

Jim L. Cain Sr. Imperial Chief Rabban Public Relations Chairman

THE PUBLIC RELATIONS VOICE 2

Santa – Live From the North PoleEarlier this month, patients at several Shriners Hospitals for Children locations experienced the magic of Christmas and chatted with Santa, all without having to leave the hospital.

Many children may not get a chance to go see Santa due to medical appointments or hospitalization. But thanks to Dimension Data and advanced communications technology, Santa made virtual visits all the way from the North Pole to kids at the Erie, Portland, Philadelphia and Houston Shriners Hospitals, so they could share their Christmas wishes. The virtual holiday visits were provided through advanced video technology similar to that used for telemedicine.

Santa’s appearance was broadcast to large screen televisions in each location, allowing children to interact with him in real time, as if they were in the same room. Each child also received a gift bag from Santa, and volunteers from Shriners Hospitals and Dimension Data filled in as Santa’s helpers to create a memorable atmosphere and experience for everyone involved.

To view an article about Santa’s virtual visit to the Erie hospital, please visit yourerie.com/news/local-news/shriners-kids-get-a-special-visit-from-the-big-guy/880054159.

Akdar Shriners Throws Christmas Celebration for Shriners Hospitals Patients

Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas Players Visit Greenville Shriners HospitalFor 81 years, outstanding players from North and South Carolina public schools have participated in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. The 2017 game kicked off on Dec. 16 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and was, as always, a great event.

As part of the game’s annual tradition, players visit Shriners Hospitals for Children — Greenville the week before the game to meet patients to gain a better understanding of the importance of the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, and experience the mission of Shriners Hospitals firsthand. During this year’s visit, the players had lunch with patients, signed autographs, played games with the kids, and then toured the hospital.

To view an article about the event and see additional photos, please visit goupstate.com/news/20171210/shrine-bowl-players-tour-shriners-hospital-in-greenville.

On Sunday, Dec. 10, Akdar Shriners of Tulsa, Oklahoma, held a huge Christmas party for patients of Shriners Hospitals. They handed out gifts to the children and their siblings, who were also able to meet with Santa. We thank everyone involved who helped make this event possible, including Tulsa’s KJRH and all those who contributed to the toy drive leading up to the big day.

To view an article about the holiday celebration, please visit kjrh.com/news/local-news/shriners-hand-out-gifts-to-kids-at-big-christmas-party-thanks-to-your-donations.

THE PUBLIC RELATIONS VOICE 3

Be Sure to Watch the 2018 Rose Parade on New Year’s Day

The East-West Shrine Game is Almost Here The 93rd East-West Shrine Game will be held January 20, 2018, in St. Petersburg, Florida. The East-West Shrine Game is the longest running college all-star game in the nation, showcasing the next generation of NFL greats while also benefiting Shriners Hospitals for Children. Since 1925, the East-West Shrine Game has helped support Shriners Hospitals for Children’s mission to improve the lives of children. Your support - whether by attending, watching live, or donating to the game – has helped keep this tradition strong.

Visit shrinegame.com/tickets to purchase your tickets today. If you can’t make it to the game, you can watch it live on NFL Network at 3 p.m. EST. For more information, please visit shrinegame.com. We hope to see you there!

Host a Watch PartyLooking for a great way to interest new or potential members? As Shriners, this is your game, so make it part of your membership campaign. Invite your friends, neighbors or co-workers to an East-West Shrine Game Watch Party, and watch the game live on NFL Network, cheer for your favorite college all-stars, debate NFL Draft picks, and talk with potential new members over tasty snacks and cold drinks.

Let us know that you are planning a watch party on Jan. 20, and we will provide a watch party package to help you promote your event. Call 813-281-8686, or email EastWestShrineGame@shrinenet.org for more information.

Alumnus Brett Favre and Patient Ambassador Alec's Special Message to Game FansHall of Fame quarterback and East-West Shrine Game alumnus, Brett Favre, has lent his support to the East-West Shrine Game, along with aspiring sports broadcaster and Chicago Shriners Hospitals for Children patient ambassador, Alec Cabacungan.

To watch their special message to game fans, please visit shrinegame.com/press-releases/alumnus-brett-favre-and-patient-ambassador-alec-ca-513.

Sun City Texas Shrine Club Holiday LightsThis December, the Sun City Texas Shrine Club again installed festive holiday wreaths and 8,200 L.E.D. lights in their community for the 12th year in a row. Two 25-feet-tall lighted trees also enhanced the display. Residents have shown their appreciation annually by generously donating to Shriners Hospitals for Children.

We thank the Sun City Texas Shrine Club for their holiday efforts each year, and for their steadfast support of Shriners Hospitals for Children.

For more than 100 years, Shriners have been well known for their participation in parades. The most prominent parade Shriners have been part of is the annual Tournament of Roses Parade, held in Pasadena, California, in which fraternity leaders, patients and other guests ride on a parade float assembled by volunteers.

The 129th Rose Parade presented by Honda will begin at 8 a.m. on Jan 1, 2018 – please check your local listings, and be sure to watch in support of Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Caring for Kids Around the World will be the theme for the 2018 Shriners Hospitals for Children Rose Parade float and it showcases – in a playful and entertaining way – how Shriners Hospitals for Children is making a difference beyond its hospitals’ doors and into the future. Commander Fezzy – in his sixth appearance on the Shriners Hospitals float design – will be at the center, and will be joined by the number one Shriner in the world, Gary Bergenske, and his wife, Anne, Trustee Peter Diaz and his wife, Vicky, along with their trusted space crew of four patient ambassadors: Alec, Emily, Isabella and Kechi (2017 America’s Got Talent finalist).

THE PUBLIC RELATIONS VOICE 4

Save the Date Jan. 1, 2018: The Tournament of Roses Parade

Jan. 20, 2018: 93rd East-West Shrine Game

March 2 – March 4, 2018: Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic

July 15 – July 19, 2018: Imperial Session of Shriners International

CONTACT USShriners International Headquarters: Public Relations Department, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL 33607

813-281-8162 shrinepr@shrinenet.org

Believe in MAGEC

When Tianni was diagnosed with infantile scoliosis, her parents did a significant amount of research to determine the best treatment options for her. Tianni also has Prader-Willi syndrome, which affects muscle tone, growth, cognitive behavior and a child’s overall development. With Prader-Willi syndrome, using anesthesia during surgery is very risky to the patient. Tianni’s scoliosis was so severe, however, that bracing was not an option.

Tianni’s parents found the answers they were looking for at Shriners Hospitals for Children — Philadelphia. The team at the Philadelphia Shriners Hospital is known for being pioneers in technology for spine care. When Tianni came to them, the team elected to perform a new procedure that could be offered to young children with scoliosis curves too large for bracing. The procedure involved a device known as the MAGEC (MAGnetic Expansion Control) Spinal Bracing and Distraction System, which had recently been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in young children.

In the past, these large and potentially life-threatening curves were treated with traditional growing rods, which require a moderate surgical procedure for implantation, followed by noninvasive lengthening procedures every six months. The MAGEC rods are an alternative to the emotionally and physically painful treatment regimen of the traditional growing rods and eliminate the need for repeated surgeries.

After the initial MAGEC surgery, the specially designed, implanted rod can be gradually lengthened from outside of the skin, avoiding the need for general anesthesia and an incision. Magnets outside the body are contained in an external remote control (ERC) device that communicates with the magnets of the implanted rod. The ERC is a portable, handheld unit that uses permanent magnets to automatically modify the length of the growing rod through the touch of a button in the outpatient clinic examination room. The ERC will be used a few times a year as the child continues to grow. Most children will have the rods replaced four times during their adolescence.

At age 4, Tianni was the first person in the country to receive the MAGEC Spinal Bracing and Distraction System surgery post-FDA clearance of the device. For Tianni, this innovative method gave her spine time to grow, without repeated trips to the operating room. She is now 7 years old, enjoys going to school and participates in dance class.

Jan. 1, 2018: The Tournament of Roses Parade

Jan. 20, 2018: The East-West Shrine Game

March 2 – March 4, 2018: Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic

July 15 – July 19, 2018: Imperial Session of Shriners International