Shriners Hospitals for Children is an international hospital system with 18 orthopaedic hospitals, three burn hospitals and one hospital providing orthopaedic, burn and spinal cord care. The facilities are located throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

All 22 Shriners Hospitals are dedicated to providing expert, specialized care to children under 18 years of age absolutely free of charge.  Shriners Hospitals are actively involved in orthopaedic and burn research and have been pioneers in some of the most advanced techniques for the treatment of these conditions.

Since its founding, the Shriners have always supported charitable activities, and in the early 1900s, when the Shriners became a truly international organization, desire grew for the Shriners to establish its own official philanthropy.

Shriners at the 1919 Imperial Council Session voted to establish a "Shriners Hospital for Children," to treat orthopaedic injuries and birth defects in children. It was to be supported by a yearly $2 assessment from each Shriner. After further research, it was determined that there should be not just one hospital, but a network of hospitals throughout North America. In 1921, the proposal was passed.