Originally Posted by CamDude

I give annually to the Shriners. My dad is a Shriner and I have personally seen the work they do. It is all for the kids and they do not charge a penny to the patients or their families.

From their website http://www.shrinershq.org/hospitals/factsfigs.html : Shriners Hospitals? total budget for 2005 is $625 million, of which $580 million is targeted for operating expenses (including $28 million for research) and 45 million for buildings and equipment expenditures. During the 83-year history of Shriners Hospitals, approximately $7 billion has been spent to operate Shriners Hospitals, and over $1.7 billion has been spent on construction and renovation.