Why We Clown

People often ask Shrine Clowns "Why Do You Clown?" We say it's because we like to see people smile or, that we like kids...but it is much more.

As Clowns, we have all been in hospitals helping to cheer up sick kids and we know from experience that smiles help heal.

So we get up earlier than most people on the weekends, we spend 2 hours putting on our make-up and then we travel however far we must, to bring a smile to a child or an elderly person or, maybe to someone temporarily down on his luck who happens our way.

We do it because we love people and we want them to forget about the troubles in their life; if only for a few precious minutes. We do it because by giving back we feel good too. We get as much as we give and it is an honor to be able to do this.

Finally, we do it to support our Shriner's Hospitals. All money raised through our Sneaker Fund is handed over to our hospitals where the money goes to treat kids. We raise thousands of dollars each year for vital research programs conducted at Shriner's Hospitals.

Since 1973 The International Shrine Clown Association (ISCA) has raised over Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) for research into better treatments for burns victims.

The Burns Shriners Hospitals are part of the Shriners Hospitals For Children Network -- of 22 Shriners Hospitals dedicated to providing expert specialized medical care to children under 18 free of charge. Shriner's Hospitals are located in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Our Burns Centers are located in Boston, Cincinnati, Galveston and Sacramento