Shriners strive to get word out about their health services
Zelzah Shrine Center provides free treatment to Las Vegas children suffering from medical conditions including bone problems, amputations, scoliosis, spinal deformities, cleft lip or palate, hip problems, burn scars, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and neuromuscular disorders.
"Any child that has a problem in one of those areas, we treat the child for free," says Mike Berry, Zelzah Shrine potentate. "It doesn't matter if it's a child from Summerlin or East Las Vegas.
"We don't have a cash register."
The 501c nonprofit organization currently provides services to 1,400 Southern Nevada children ranging from annual checkups to free surgery at the Shriners Hospital in Los Angeles (including free transportation in the charity's two vans). Every 90 days, Zelzah imports doctors from Shriners Hospital in Los Angeles for an outreach clinic.
Children can enter the program until their 18th birthday and do not require sponsorship by a Shriner.
"One of our biggest problems is getting the word out that we treat children for free," says Berry, a former school superintendent from Houston. "When you tell somebody, 'Bring your child in, we'll treat him for free,' a lot of our people say: 'Wait a minute, nothing's for free. Where's the kicker?' "
The Zelzah Shrine Center -- at 222 W. Mesquite Ave. -- utilizes 900 volunteers and a full-time staff of four. Most of the local work centers on fundraising; it takes $2 million per day for Shrine International to run its 22 U.S. hospitals. Last year, Zelzah raised $300,000.
Zelzah receives no grants or other federal or state support. Private individuals and companies are its sole source of support.
"And we can always use more," Berry says.
For more information about Zelzah Shrine Center, call 382-5554.
Contact reporter Corey Levitan at clevitan@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0456.
