22 Shriners Hospitals for Children Patients To serve As
Standard Bearers During Shriners Hospitals for Children Open
Shriners Hospitals for Children gives patients the experience of a lifetime at the 2018 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas
A patient from each of the 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children will have the experience of a lifetime in November when they represent their local hospitals as standard bearers at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open during the tournament’s final two rounds Nov. 3-4.
The patients, ranging in age from 13-19, have demonstrated great courage and determination in recovering from orthopaedic conditions, burns and cleft lip and palate. Each patient has an inspiring story to share and was nominated to give them an experience they’ll never forget: not only spending a weekend at a PGA tournament, but also meeting fellow patients.
As standard bearers, they will carry the scores of the PGA TOUR players during the final two rounds of the tournament for a rare, “inside the ropes” experience, in addition to having the opportunity to demonstrate how Shriners Hospitals for Children has transformed their lives.
“Our patients are so excited to have the chance to represent their ‘home’ hospitals at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, and to meet patients from other Shriners Hospitals throughout the country,” said Ed Stolze, Imperial First Ceremonial Master and chairman of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open committee. “These kids are so thrilled to have the chance to get up close and personal at a PGA TOUR tournament and to meet professional golfers. But the more lasting experience for them will be the friendships they make and the strong bonds they form with each other. It’s nothing short of heart-warming for us as Shriners. Many patients from previous years are still in close touch with each other.”
To help defray the costs of sending 22 patients to Las Vegas for the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, Shriners Hospitals are conducting their second annual #FundraiseFORELove campaign. Each patient has a special fundraising website that includes their biography. #FundraiseFORELove donations for individual standard bearers can be made online now at https://donate.lovetotherescue.org/standard-bearer
“The goal of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open is to raise awareness of the great medical care provided every day at Shriners Hospitals for Children locations throughout North America and around the world through outreach clinics. The work those hospitals do to help transform the lives of children with orthopedic conditions, burns, cleft lip and palate and spinal cord injuries has positioned Shriners Hospitals for Children as a global force for kids,” said Patrick Lindsey, executive director of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. “We want to provide these children with an opportunity to see some of the best golfers in the world compete here in Las Vegas and leave with lasting memories and friendships.”
Standard bearers include:
| Evan Wallace | Boston |
| Ariana Ianniciello | Canada |
| Connor Wright | Chicago |
| Felicia Berling | Cincinnati |
| Rachel Sumrada | Erie |
| Kaden Bradley | Galveston |
| Megan Wetherald | Greenville |
| Noah Gosiaco | Honolulu |
| Zachary Johnson | Houston |
| Jaycee Anderson | Lexington |
| Arlet Mendez | Mexico City |
| Chloe Maples | Northern California |
| Cristian Gray | Pasadena |
| Jalen Castle | Philadelphia |
| Jacob Ford | Portland |
| Drew Burks | Salt Lake City |
| Connor Huffman | Shreveport |
| Halle Jones | Spokane |
| Kira Krzysztof | Springfield |
| Chloe Easterlin | St. Louis |
| Justin Ashford | Tampa |
| Michelle Yang | Twin Cities |
About Shriners Hospitals for Children Open:
The 2018 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open brings the FedExCup to Las Vegas as the PGA TOUR returns to the Las Vegas valley for the 36th consecutive year. Many of the top golfers in the world will participate in the competition and help support the mission of Shriners Hospitals for Children® from Oct. 29 – Nov. 4 at TPC Summerlin.
Follow the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Shriners Hospitals for Children:
Shriners Hospitals for Children has a mission to provide the highest quality care to children with neuromusculoskeletal conditions, burn injuries and other special healthcare needs within a compassionate, family-centered and collaborative care environment. Shriners Hospitals for Children is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. Our 22 locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico provide advanced care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate, regardless of the families’ ability to pay.
Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies on the generosity of donors. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. Learn more at shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.
About PGA TOUR:
By showcasing golf’s greatest players, the PGA TOUR engages, inspires and positively impacts our fans, partners and communities worldwide.
The PGA TOUR co-sanctions more than 130 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions, Web.com Tour, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada and PGA TOUR Series-China. Members on the PGA TOUR represent the world’s best players, hailing from 25 countries (85 members are from outside the United States). Worldwide, PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to more than 1 billion households in 226 countries and territories in 23 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations to maximize charitable giving. In 2017, tournaments across all Tours generated a record of more than $180 million for local and national charitable organizations, bringing the all-time total to $2.65 billion.
The PGA TOUR’s web site is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.