Posted on 01/21/2009 7:46:35 PM PST by mnehring
Out of all of the financial woes stemming from the current economic slump, this one hits me the hardest:
Shriners Hospital for Children-Galveston will suspend operations to cope with a $3 billion shortfall in the Shriners International endowment fund, the organization’s president said Tuesday.
In 2008, the Galveston hospital had a $33 million operating budget, according to information provided by the hospital. The hospital, which specializes in treating burned children, has been closed since Hurricane Ike struck Galveston Island Sept. 13.
The hospital treats about 250 acutely burned children each year and keeps treating them until they are 18. In 2007, the hospital admitted 1,575 patients, including 548 acute burn cases, according to hospital statistics.
Semb said the hospital will continue to follow up on the children initially treated for burns in Galveston, flying them to other Shriners hospitals if need be.
Shriners is a wonderful organization. I wish them well.
Wonder if this has anything to do with UTMB moving most operations up to Austin? The hits just keep coming for Galveston.
Today, with four page telephone bills, taxes that defy the imagination, too many families have both parents working to pay the bills.
Now the family is different, and the husband has to come home and stay home, and all fraternal and too many civic organizations have paid the price.
Hella Shrine Temple in Dallas once had over 13,000 members and the count today is about 3,600.
I give what I can every year to the Shriners and also the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital.
Meanwhile, we need more Masons!
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