Local Shriners give to some Special Olympians

Local Shriner Gordon Anderson (right) presents the circus tickets to Tammy Sparks (left) and Diane Broerman (center) representing local Special Olympics

Gordon Anderson of the Mahaska County Shriners presented 90 tickets to the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine Circus. On hand to accept the tickets was Diane Broerman and Tammy Sparks.

The circus will be held at Jacobson Center at the Iowa State Fairgrounds March 25th, 26th and 27th. On top of the 90 tickets (some help cover chaperons), they also presented the 70 athlete’s  with $10.00 in spending money so they could enjoy some refreshment while there.

Ron Coleman also a member of the local Shriners said “they get a big kick out of that, they can buy cotton candy or whatever they want to buy with it and their just tickled to death.”

The nearly 80 local members started doing this event last year, with the size of the ticket give away doubling in that short time.

Mahaska County Shrine Club meets the 2nd Monday of each month at various locations. You can visit their website HERE for meeting locations and more information.

The Shriners also help support Shriners Hospitals for Children, and their statement as outlined on their website:

Shriners International supports Shriners Hospitals for Children®, a health care system of 22 hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing pediatric specialty care, innovative research, and outstanding teaching programs for medical professionals. Children up to age 18 with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care and receive all services in a family-centered environment, regardless of the patients’ ability to pay.