Shriners Helping Children / George Jeffrey Children's Foundation / Thunder Bay, Ontario

Shriners Helping Children

September 8, 2022

Pictured Above L-R: Grant Poulin (Secretary, Lakehead Shrine Club), Stephanie Paxton (Foundation Coordinator, George Jeffrey Children's Foundation), Cindy Levanto (Executive Director, George Jeffrey Children's Foundation), Ed Carr (Lakehead Shrine Club)

As we work to improve the lives of children who come to George Jeffrey Children's Centre, we are forever thankful for the support we receive from our community.

The Lakehead Shrine Club has been an active supporter of George Jeffrey Children's Foundation for nearly 15 years, providing support to the children in our care as our programs continue to align with their initiatives.

The Lakehead Shrine Club has provided gifts to a number of organizations that continue to support the development of children in our community. George Jeffrey Children's Foundation is privileged to be among those recipients who have received funding. The Lakehead Shrine Club has worked closely with the Foundation over the years, initially through the Room Sponsorship at the Brock Street location, and they continue to help fund essential equipment. Most recently, the Club helped fund the purchase of a Vital Signs Monitor for the Paediatric Outpatient Program, ensuring our paediatrician and clinicians have the proper equipment to monitor the kids in our care.

Currently, the Lakehead Shrine Club has joined George Jeffrey Children's Foundation as the Matching Partner for the summer campaign to help inspire donors to support the purchase of a new 3D Printer for the Augmentative & Alternative Communications Department at George Jeffrey Children's Centre.

In 1922, fueled by a desire to make a difference in the world, Shriners founded their own philanthropy, Shriners Children. Over the past century, it has become one of the largest paediatric sub-specialty healthcare systems in the world, with locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Since opening the first hospital in 1922, Shriner's have been devoted to providing high-quality specialty medical care to the children and families regardless of their personal financial status.

Although Shriners International is a brotherhood, it is also an organization that celebrates the importance of family. Many events and activities are designed to include spouses, children, and grandchildren, and to promote shared values. Shriner's participate in local and regional parades and street fairs where you can see them driving around in their mini cars and newly acquired E-Bikes.

The Lakehead "Weea Rail Train" was donated to the Lakehead Shrine Club by the Massaro Family in memory of the late Albert Massaro. The club has used the train to entertain the public as a fundraiser at parades, street fairs and events to help pay for the transportation of children in need of services from the area to Shriners Hospitals. Over the years the Club has raised funds to provide thousands of children from Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario transportation to one of the many Shrine Hospitals located in the USA and here in Canada, where they receive high quality specialty treatment.