A Carnival, Celebrating a Century of Care

Clowns, bagpipers and cheesecake helped draw nearly 800 people to the 100th Birthday Bash celebration at Shriners Children’s Chicago. Current and former patients, team members, retired staff, Shriners and their families were there to celebrate 100 years of hope and healing at the specialty pediatric hospital, which provides care for children with orthopedic conditions, cleft lip and palate, spinal cord injuries, and rehabilitation and therapy needs.

From medical education and life-changing research to complex surgeries and fracture clinics, Shriners Children’s Chicago has continued to advance, serving young patients and their families with specialized care and services, and will continue to do so in the next century.

There was a lot to celebrate at the carnival event, which took place at the same location that opened 100 years ago. Some visitors traveled from across the country to witness the celebration of a century of care, including Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Shriners Children’s, Leslie “Doc” Stewart, M.D., who spoke to the crowd during the party.

“Back in March of 1926, when the Chicago location opened on this very spot, we were in a period of explosive growth. One hundred years later, we find ourselves in another important period of growth, as we position ourselves to serve even more children,” Dr. Stewart said.

A Fun, Inclusive Celebration

The 100th Birthday Bash began that morning with a wheelchair pickleball demonstration presented by community partner GLASA (Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association) and the Association of Pickleball Players, featuring tour professionals Marcel Borcean and Paul Zickert. Throughout the day, patients in wheelchairs were given the opportunity to try the sport on a temporary pickleball court, while other guests were able to sit in a sports wheelchair and experience the game from a different perspective.

The party, which was highlighted on CBS2 Chicago, continued in typical Shriners fashion when the parade kicked off at 11 a.m. with participating Shriners from five states. Leading the parade was Grand Marshal Bob Phillips, a former Shriners Children’s patient and employee, who was driven in style in a minivan provided by the neighboring McGrath City Honda.

The crowd enjoyed the procession of motorcycles, flying carpets, tiny cars, bagpipers, the Medinah police squad, clowns, pirates aboard a ship and an airplane. Shriners Children’s mascot Fezzy® also marched in the parade wearing a commemorative t-shirt to celebrate.

Following the parade, young carnival-goers could get their face painted, design a fez or dress up their own bear through a partnership with Build-A-Bear Foundation Buddy Rooms®. They could also visit the petting zoo, an attraction enjoyed by kids of all ages, or grab a sweet treat with candy provided by Mars, Inc.