Shriners: A network of philanthropy
After a long, hot parade as a Shriner volunteer in full clown make-up and costume, Kevin Kirkbride was ready to get changed and cool off when he was approached by a young boy who wanted to thank him for everything he did.
“I didn’t even know he was a Shriner patient,” says the Halifax resident.
“His mother told me that he was a double amputee, and, because of the Shriners, he was now able to have every opportunity that an able-bodied person has. That melted my heart right there.”
Kirkbride first got involved with the Shriners while living in the United States and then continued his volunteer work in Nova Scotia. Here, the local Philae Shriners program assists with funding for children who have medical issues, such as cerebral palsy, burn injuries, spina bifida, cleft palate, and club foot. They fund some treatments at the IWK Hospital and have also provided assistance to children who need to travel to other areas for medical treatment.
Kirkbride was drawn to the Shriner spirit of giving when he was looking for somewhere to volunteer.
“There’s a whole network of philanthropy behind what you see in the parades. So many people don’t realize what we stand for. We’re just the guys with the funny hats and the funny cars,” he explains.
“Every time I step out there and do an event, though, I’m doing my part to make sure we’re providing free health care to all children across North America.”
Kirkbride immediately gravitated towards the Shriners clown entertainment unit when he first joined. Before long, he’d attended clown school and created two alter egos, Sweet-P and Crash, to delight and entertain children while raising money for a good cause.
“Once I experienced the joy of passing joy on to somebody else, it was like nothing else,” he says. “This gives me a chance to give back to somebody who needs it, even though I may never know that person.”
Kirkbride says volunteering as a clown brings happiness to kids who are going through a tough time, but it also brings him happiness.
“It’s the good that I feel I’m doing, it’s the joy I see in the kids’ faces and it’s the joy it brings to me,” he says.
Go online: For more information on the Nova Scotia Shriners, visit www.philaeshriners. org