Annual Report 2023-2024

raising our profile, Telling Our Story Signature events demonstrate Shriners Children’s impact Shriners Children’s Open

“Fight through the battle, even with the disability life gives you,” wrote Gavin, from Ohio. “You’ve got a friend in Honduras,” wrote International Patient Ambassador Juan Diego, who is Honduran. Said Thompson at the end: "It's the best feeling, just seeing the kids out there screaming, 'Lexi, Lexi, go Lexi!' It makes me tear up sometimes, because that's what I play for, to inspire these little kids, boys or girls, to just get a club in their hand and follow their dreams, whether it's golf or anything in life.”

The Shriners Children’s Open was won for the second year in a row by 21-year-old Tom Kim of South Korea. The win made him the second youngest player since World War II to win three PGA TOUR titles, after Tiger Woods, who is the youngest. With the win at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas, Kim, whose risky but fun style of play has been likened to a golden retriever on Red Bull, also became the youngest player in more than 110 years to successfully defend a PGA TOUR recognized title. An exciting element of the 2023 Shriners Children's Open was the invitation to LPGA star Lexi Thompson to play. She accepted, becoming the first female to play in the Shriners Children's Open and only the seventh to play in a PGA event. Although she missed the cut and just played two days, Thompson was a huge attraction on the course, and with the Shriners Children’s patient representatives. “The fans were amazing,” she said. “So many people around that first tee and then following us those next few holes. There's more to it than just golf. Shriners Children’s does amazing things for these kids.” A big crowd followed Thompson as she progressed from hole to hole, particularly on her opening holes on the first day. Thompson brought a brand-new, white bag to the tournament. She let the patients sign it and leave messages. Kerrigan from St. Louis, Keoni from Northern California, and International Patient Ambassador Gianna from Southern California all had the special opportunity to share a personable message with Thompson.

Shriners Children's Charleston Classic

The University of Houston Cougars men’s basketball team took an early lead in the final of the Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic. Then, without flinching, they kept it for the rest of the game, to beat the University of Dayton Flyers 69-55 and win the tournament.

Several patient ambassadors were on hand in Charleston, South Carolina, to tell their stories and help showcase Shriners Children's amazing

care as only they can, including Texas patient Libby, Ohio patient Parker, and International Patient Ambassadors Gianna and Juan Diego. All of the games were televised on one of the ESPN channels, garnering excellent coverage for Shriners Children's and introducing our healthcare system to a wide audience.

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