(Syria Shrine – Pittsburgh, PA) -- Feb. 2–8, 2020, is Burn Awareness Week.

During this time, Shriners Hospitals for Children^® will begin its annual burn awareness and prevention campaign. Since the 1960s, Shriners Hospitals for Children has been a leader in burn care, research and education — and burn injury prevention is a key component in these efforts. 

Burn Awareness Week is Shriners Hospitals for Children’s kickoff of a yearlong educational campaign aimed at burn awareness and prevention. Free educational materials, available via the website beburnaware.org, are designed to be a resource for firefighters, teachers, parents and others concerned with the safety and well-being of children. 

Building on the theme “Be Burn Aware,” our focus is on preventing burn injuries in the home, because most preventable burn injuries occur in residences. Homes are the sites of thousands of burn injuries to children every year, including scalds, fire-related injuries, and even electrical burns. Many of these types of incidents may be prevented by implementing some simple safety precautions. 

The campaign features two child-friendly characters, Boots and Brewster – a caped, cuddly bear and a googly-eyed teapot – who are presented in activity books for children ages 3-7 and 8-12. The entertaining duo leads children through the various rooms of a house, pointing out dangers and how to easily correct or avoid them. The coloring pages, word searches, cartoons and other activities are designed to grab children’s attention and present the information in a memorable, age-appropriate manner. In addition, tip sheets and other materials emphasize prevention of scalds and fire-related and electrical burns.

Shriners Hospitals has also created an animated video, Boots and Brewster: The Burn Awareness Pair, which kids are sure to enjoy. In the video, available on YouTube.com/ShrinersHospitals, Boots and Brewster take viewers on a fun and educational adventure to help them become more burn aware.  

Everyone concerned with keeping children safe is encouraged to participate in the yearlong campaign by visiting beburnaware.org for burn prevention tips and information on how to order the free materials.

About Shriners International 

Shriners International, a fraternity based on fun, fellowship and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth, founded Shriners Hospitals for Children as its official philanthropy in 1922. What began as one hospital is now a world-renowned health care system with locations in three countries. The fraternity, which has nearly 200 chapters in several countries and thousands of clubs around the world, continues to support this unique health care system. For more information, please visit shrinersinternational.org.

About Shriners Hospitals for Children

Shriners Hospitals for Children is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. Our health care system provides advanced care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate. 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. For more information, please visit shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.

The Erie Hospital had another function that same day and was not able to attend, but two members from the Erie Hospital Board of Governors were present.

On December 11, 2019 the check was presented in the Syria Shrine Board room. Samuel Santini, Hypnotism Society President, presented a check to Dr. Barry Hootman, Md., Erie B.O.G. member. They were flanked by six smiling faces.

In the picture left to right are Terry Steinheiser, Syria Shrine High Priest & Profit, Alvin Douglas, Jr. B.O.G. Emeritus, Roadrunner Chairman, Samuel Santini Hypnosis President, Dr. Barry Hootman, Md., Erie B.O.G. member, Robert Addleman, Jr, .P.P., Recorder, and David Gardy, P.P. Treasurer.

Stan Malak, Hypnotism Society member, was behind the camera and camera shy.

On December 19, 2019 at the Erie B.O.G. board meeting Syria Shrine board members will present the check in the amount of $17,677.68.  A great donation to Shriners Hospitals for Children - Erie!

-Al Douglas

In 2015, prolific sporting clays shooter and Syria Gun Club member Jim Nassif approached then-Potentate Bob Herbert with a proposal. Their vision was to pair a love of sporting clays with an event that could generate a charitable funding source earmarked for Shriners Hospital for Children - Erie. Without hesitation, the concept was approved, and the Sporting Clay Charity Shoot was born.

CHARITY SHOOT HISTORY

From concept to successful event is typically a long road, but these quick-acting Nobles saw the potential. “We went through Shriners International Headquarters to get it approved,” says Bob Herbert, Past Potentate. “We had to hurry (in our first year). In less than 6 weeks we had the event planned and raised $29,000. Jim and Eddie do a great job with sponsors and event planning.”

Noble Ed Aiello was an early supporter of the event and joined in the planning. “Our thoughts were to try and improve the identity of the Shrine to young people who shoot and use it as a forum to talk about what we do,” Ed said. “We’ve brought in patients and their families to talk about how the hospitals have helped them.”

The venerable planning committee deserving of the credit for the Charity Shoot’s success has consisted of Nobles Andy Young, Jim Nassif and Ed Aiello. Dave Galardini has always been a strong supporter, and Jason Ross joined in 2019.

FUN FOR PARTICIPANTS

Noble Jim Nassif describes the event as appealing to the sporting clays shooter. They offer a continental breakfast, 100 rounds of sporting clays, lunch, gun raffles, 50/50, auction items, men’s and ladies’ trophies and special room rates all set in the beautiful backdrop of the Laurel Highlands at Seven Springs.

It’s a purpose-designed event that benefits our mission: to support the SHC-Erie Hospital. A day of sport shooting fun delivers more value to those contributing than a donation alone. Shriners Hospitals for Children is a fully qualified 501(c) 3 charitable organization under IRS regulation. Sponsor’s and participant’s donations ARE tax deductible to the fullest extent provided by the law. “The participant’s money donated is a deduction, plus you’re doing great work for the philanthropy. It’s a win-win in a single day event,” says Bob.

FUNDRAISING FOR THE HOSPITAL

Ed Aiello describes how this event attracts considerable sponsorship dollars, “What we do is contact (Erie) hospital and find out what capital projects they’re working on, this year it’s two new state-of-the-art Skytron surgical operating room tables. We like to tell sponsors what we’re funding instead of simply collecting money for the hospital.“

The event’s first year monies went to a C-Arm Ultra Sound Machine. Second year’s monies bought food supplements and wheel chairs. Third year’s monies acquired an EOS Low Radiation Dose Imaging Machine. Fourth year’s monies purchased two new General Anesthesia Machines. 

Selecting a specific capital improvement project to support through the charity shoot has gone over so well with sponsors that in five years this event has raised just under $415,000 for Shriners Hospital for Children - Erie.

An immeasurable debt of gratitude is owed to these generous sponsors: Mark Raymond, Dave Galardini/RBC Wealth Management, Mary Maniecki, Jim & Connie Nassif, Al Bove, 3GS Consulting, Miller Wielding, Hanco, Shrine Gun Club, Joe & Polly Connelly, Ed & Joan Aiello, Medpipe, Tony Bucciero, and Robindale Energy.

Syria’s Harige Unit (The Clowns!) also deserve a special recognition for their much-appreciated participation.

At the annual Imperial Session, a Temple Sports Report is given detailing how much money is raised from sporting events sponsored as charitable fundraisers for Shriners Hospitals for Children. This year, 30 Temple events were highlighted that consisted of high school and college All-Star football games, hockey games, golf outings etc. Not one of these events equaled the earnings of our 2017 and 2018 Sporting Clay Shooting events.

Bob knows very well how successful the concept has been, “Not one of those events by another Temple has gone over 100K in this year's Temple Sports Report, and they have not beat what the Syria Gun Club's Charity Sporting Clay Shoot did in five years.”

HONORING ANDY YOUNG

Noble Andy Young was instrumental in gaining the early support of the Syria Gun Club. He passed away on June 28th, 2019. Andy was an active Mason in Perry Ionic Lodge #796 and a Shriner in Syria Shrine where he served as Shrine Ambassador, Shrine Gun Club past president and secretary. Andy was an active member of the Sporting Clay Shoot and its planning committee.

“Andy Young he was the BEST,” Jim Nassif said, “and a great encourager and supporter of our fundraiser. The Shrine lost a great man!”

“This year, the money will be donated in memory of Andy Young. Andy was one of the chief supporters from the Gun Club, so we’ve decided that when the money goes in it will be a contribution in the memory of Andy,” Ed said.

RETURNING NEXT SUMMER

Planning for 2020’s Sporting Clay Charity Shoot will begin later in 2019, and the Gun Club is requesting your support. Participants can come for lunch only or join in the fun and shoot. Bronze, silver and gold sponsorships are available, and all donations benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children - Erie. Contact Ed Aiello for more information

“We do this for the children,” says Bob Herbert. “The Shriners have 22 pediatric specialty hospitals that help thousands of children each year at absolutely no cost to their families. The hospitals help children who have problems of the bones, joints or muscles, and children with cleft lip and palates or who have been severely burned. Three of the orthopedic hospitals also specialize in treating children with spinal cord injuries. In addition to the medical care provided to children by Shriners Hospitals, most of the hospitals are also actively engaged in research, searching for cures to crippling childhood diseases and better treatments for burn injuries. The operating budget for Shriners Hospitals for Children is approximately $2.2M dollars every day. Every time we treat a child, we are improving that child’s life. We appreciate your support and the support of the kids. It’s all for the children.”

Representatives from the North Hills Home Brew Fest were present in Pittsburgh’s North Side section this past Saturday August 24th. The air tingled with excitement for the debut of the 2019 winning beer from Tim Guido’s Hounds Run Brewing. Bucco Blue had finally arrived! Through an incredible partnership between Penn Brewery and the North Hills Home Brew Fest, the winning beer is brewed and served for a limited time to try at Penn Brewery.

COMPETITION JITTERS

“It was the first time I’ve ever done anything like that, says Hounds Run Brewing’s Tim Guido. “And I was hesitant because I call my friends about the beer I make, you know, and they want to drink the beer. They’re not really good critics. That was the biggest thing to get past was giving total strangers my beer. I was going to have to face what they really thought, and they weren’t going to candy coat it.”

Tim might be a humble guy, but his Bucco Blue is no humble beer.

LIFE CHANGING RECOGNITION

Winning a prestigious event such as the NHHBF has catapulted Tim and his Wife Andrea into home-brewed beer stardom. Andrea says recognition has come quickly.

“What I noticed is the craft beer drinkers going from beer fest to beer fest and how the word had spread. They’re like ‘oh this is the blueberry that won, you’ve got to try this.’ Friends that might have missed it at the North Hills Home Brew Fest are excited to try it. So the word had spread in a small amount of time,” she said.

Tim is now emboldened to enter other beer-brewing festivals with plans for showcasing his skills again soon.

WHAT GOT YOU INTO IT?

“I had been home brewing about 10-11 years,” Tim describes. “I was working with a friend and we got into drinking craft beer about 15 years ago and it was sort of like a big change. Previous to that I would drink Genesee Light, Bud Light, and then I started drinking craft beer. There are so many different options and styles, and so I got interested in it. Somebody introduced me to a home brew shop in Tarentum. I ended up buying a $75 starter kit with a couple of pre-packaged ingredients. Once I started brewing I said wow this is drinkable, I could do this. And then it started snowballing. 4 or 5 years ago I built my own 3 vessel system on a double burner. Every year it’s like I have got to do something new. The whole engineering part of it I love.”

Tim Guido’s Hounds Run Brewing boasts between 12 and 13 different styles of beer. Some of Tim’s favorite beers to make include Kolsch, Rye IPA, Tangerine IPA, and a Gingerbread Stout for the holidays.

COMMERCIAL BREWING VERSUS HOME BREWING

If you were at the 2019 NHHBF, then you got to taste Bucco Blue in all its glory. Brewing at scale, however, means accepting a few adjustments.

The excitement for the debut of the winning beer and the smile on its creators’ face overshadowed any differences in production methods.

SMALL SCALE BREWERIES TAKING OFF

It seems like a new brewery is opening almost monthly across Western Pennsylvania. Tim says he is appreciative of the home-brewed beer industry, and he roots for the small operations. “I sort of think the smaller the better. I like the shops that are set up in storefronts, you know a couple 1000 square feet.”

Tim came close to opening his own brewery a few years back. It having never launched, though, Tim considers a bit of a blessing, and a cautious tale for those with brewery ambitions.

“We looked into opening a brewery in Lower Burrell about 4 years ago. We actually found a place, we went through the zoning, I actually got financing and then the relationship soured with the owners of the building. We were ready to roll. We were ready to start signing the leases. I had my equipment picked out. Some red flags came up with the building owners and it caused us to take a step back.”

A HOBBY FOR NOW

Tim and Andrea see home brewing as a worthwhile pastime, and don’t envision any plans to capitalize on the newly-found fame of winning the 2019 NHHBF.

“We are not interested in expansion now,” Tim said. “We’ve talked about it and we’re comfortable doing what we’re doing. It’s for fun. It costs us a lot of money because I like to expand and to do new stuff. This is a good avenue - finding these festivals where I can give product away instead having all this beer and wondering what I’m going to do with it. The biggest thing is that I like to brew as much as I can just to keep on getting better and try new things.”

ADVICE FOR CONTENDERS

Thinking of taking a shot at the North Hills Home Brew Fest crown? All you need is to do your research, says Tim. “There is so much research available on the internet through different publications and things. That’s all I do, read research and try and come up with new things. Don’t be afraid to do it and try something different. What’s the worst you can do? Drink bad beer for a couple of months to get rid of it.“

WILL HOUNDS RUN BREWING REPEAT IN 2020?

Tim and Andrea can't wait to return to the North Hills Home Brew Fest in 2020 to defend their title. But Tim has no qualms about the competition at this popular Pittsburgh event. There is an even bigger reason for why Tim and home brewers around the region continue to brew.

“Well I didn’t expect anything when I first entered. That was the nice thing about it. I had zero expectations. I went to the Oakmont festival a month later, soon after winning the North Hills Home Brew Fest, and I changed my lineup, which didn’t win that time. There’s going to be a lot of expectations now. There’s a lot of good beers that people are making for these festivals. It’s not about winning for me. It’s actually about the camaraderie. It’s about meeting the other brewers. I brewed for several years by myself. I never talked to anyone about brewing.”

“I like the camaraderie between them, says Andrea. “They’re not keeping secrets about their brewing methods or what they do. Everybody’s happy to share, and I like that about it.”

“You see that with professional Brewers as well, Tim said. “They may hide bits and pieces of their recipes, but if you look on any commercial brewer’s website, they'll tell you what goes into those beers. There are no secrets.”

It is no secret that the North Hills Home Brew Fest is returning in May of 2020 to the Pittsburgh Shrine Center Pavilion. We’ll be cheering Tim on, and can't wait to see you all there!

I always return from an Imperial Session inspired by the great things Shriners do, both in advancing our fraternity and our philanthropy, and the amazing things our patients are able to accomplish with our help.

This year, however, I am even more inspired after my return by a fellow Noble who always finds a way to fill my sails, even when his own might benefit from a breeze of fair winds.

Noble John Clark is exemplary of the indomitable spirit and strength of character we admire in all Freemasons and Shriners.

Noble John has been battling insidious cancers for the last five years. He has never complained, always persisted, and never asked, “Why me”? He simply continues to defy the odds day by day, week by week, month by month, and year by year. 

Our Brother, you see, seems to have embraced what he sees as his latest mission from God: To serve as an example and inspiration to those of us who face our own obstacles in life.

Talking with John this past week has amplified the good vibrations I picked up in Music City. He has reminded me how wonderful life is, and how much better it is when you’re a Shriner! 

Thanks, John, my dear friend and Brother. You are truly an inspiration to all of us!

All the best, and yours in the faith,

Bob,
Recorder