“DO YOU KNOW WHAT ASHAC REPRESENTS?”
As members of Aladdin Shrine, we all know that our greatest humanitarian effort as Shriners is our support of Shriners Hospitals for Children. We are indeed proud of the 22 hospitals in North America that care for children with orthopedic problems, those who have been seriously burned, children with cleft lip and palate deficiencies, and those with spinal cord injuries and defects.
Did you know, however, that Aladdin Shriners have gone above and beyond in their humanitarian quest to provide better lives for children? For the past 70 years, Aladdin has been treating children with these same problems locally, right here in central Ohio, through a very special organization called The Aladdin Shriners Hospital Association for Children (ASHAC). This association was established to not only support Shriners Hospitals for Children throughout the world, but also to care for children in central Ohio – all while spreading the message of the benevolence of Shriners.
ASHAC does not compete in any way with the 22 Shrine Hospitals across North America, but instead it complements their endeavors. ASHAC, in collaboration with Shriners International and Shriners Hospitals for Children, maintains an operating fund from which the interest and dividends pay for the care and treatment of children in Aladdin’s jurisdiction who are suffering from burn injuries, orthopedic problems, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate deficiencies. ASHAC also provides wheelchairs, prosthetics and patient care support to these children.
At the end of each year, after all the bills are paid, ASHAC takes the remaining money received from interest, dividends, wills, bequests, and donations, in excess of the amount it is permitted to maintain in the fund, and disperses the money as follows: 1) A minimum of one half is returned to Shriners Hospitals for Children (by dividing the amount into thirds and giving these thirds equally to the Lexington, Cincinnati and Erie Shrine Hospitals). 2) The remaining one half is then divided and, upon written request to and approval from the trustees of ASHAC, given to health care institutions throughout Aladdin’s jurisdiction that support patient care within the guidelines set forth by the trustees of ASHAC and Shriners Hospitals for Children.
The ability of Aladdin Shriners to be able to care for and treat children within our own jurisdiction without diminishing our efforts on behalf of Shriners Hospitals for Children is unique and a source of pride for all Aladdin Shriners.
So, my fellow Nobles give yourselves a hearty pat on the back, you deserve it.
Now – are Aladdin Shriners special? You bet.
