Whether bundled against a wind-chill or dressed down for the heat index they are always there at Cliff’s Corner soliciting funds to help support a national network of Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Cliff’s Corner is what Shriners call the bustling intersection of Ga. 20 and Marketplace Boulevard in Cumming in honor of the late Cliff Osborn, a retired marine and Shriner whose fez and cigar were daily sights at the location until ill health kept him away.
One Saturday with wind chills in the 20s Shriner Dennis Davidson of Cumming, worked the two left-turn lanes with agility and a smile raising money for the many Shriner charitable works – especially Shriners Hospitals.
“We’ve got 22 hospitals with the finest burn units in the country,” said Davidson.
The eight-year member of the Yaarab Shrine on Ponce de Leon in Atlanta said Shriners fly families to one of their hospitals free of charge. Following any treatment, the hospitals will accept insurance as payment in full. For those without coverage, Davidson says proudly, “they never get a bill.”
Despite his own health issues, the 58-year-old Davidson said of his volunteer work for the Shrine, “I love it.” Adding that every day he stands on the corner bolsters his faith in human nature.
Davidson’s approach to fundraising is definitely in keeping with the theme of the Shriner’s belief system – having fun while doing good. A smile never leaves his face as he races from car to car and then back to the safety of the median just as the traffic signal turns from red to green.
Asked whether the Shriners corner of choice in South Forsyth is a good one for raising money, his smile turned into a grin and while not providing specific dollar amounts he merely said “Lucrative, very lucrative.”
Generations of Shriners have been raising money on street corners and elsewhere in the Atlanta area since 1829. They proudly report currently delivering about $600,000 a year to support their children’s hospitals.
The organization’s other big fund raiser is the Shrine Circus which presents reasonably priced family entertainment, and has for 70 years. The 72nd Circus and Fair is scheduled for May 16 - 26 at Jim Miller Park in Marietta. Even under the Big Top, Shriner philosophy prevails as the elderly and underprivileged children get in for free.
In their efforts to collect donations to support this worthy cause, Davidson and his fellow Shriners personify the organization’s motto, “Never does a Shiner stand so tall as when he stoops to help a child.”
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