The Heart Behind House of Charity

Hashmat Effendi wears many hats, including humanitarian, author, mother and founder, to name a few. Her mission of giving back began with a single realization that every child deserves access to medical care, regardless of where they are born. As the founder and president of the House of Charity, Hashmat has devoted her life to ensuring children in underserved regions receive the medical care they need.

Hashmat’s passion for helping others began during her childhood in Pakistan, where she witnessed the devastating effects of poverty and inadequate medical resources. When she was just 11 years old, she used her family’s connections to assist struggling families by collecting medicine, clothes and books for those in need. Growing up as the child of a government official, Hashmat had access to excellent healthcare, a privilege she was determined to extend to children who were not as fortunate.

In 1981, when she was 19, Hashmat came to the United States for the first time. During her time there, she built connections with healthcare providers and learned about the comprehensive care model offered by Shriners Children’s. Inspired by their approach, she began traveling back to Pakistan, where she identified children with severe burns and brought them to the United States for treatment. “Parents are desperate,” Hashmat said. “Many complications stem from poverty. If a child is burned in Pakistan, the stigma and cultural attitudes in their community can isolate them. When that child receives care at Shriners Children’s Texas, the entire family flourishes.”

In 1997, Hashmat established the House of Charity, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing access to specialized burn treatments for children worldwide. For decades, this organization has been a beacon of hope, and much of its success has been shaped by the collaboration and support of Shriners Children's Texas and Robert McCauley, M.D., who passed in 2020. Dr. McCauley served as the chief of reconstructive surgery and medical director of the tissue bank at Shriners Children’s Texas. His expertise in burn care, along with the resources and innovative treatments offered by Shriners Children's, have been instrumental in ensuring that children receive the highest quality of medical attention, no matter their circumstances.