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Many know the Shriners as "those guys who drive around in go-carts and wear funny hats." However there's much more to the organization than a fondness for toys and questionable taste in headwear. The Shriners, a part of the Indiana Jones-sounding "Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine," are a philanthropic fraternity with a "serious purpose." Their main mission is to raise money for Shriners Hospitals for children. They accomplish this through events (like the Shrine football game)
and personal donations. Becoming a Shriner isn't easy. In fact, those who wish to join must first reach the rank of "Master Mason" within the Masons. The Shriners' famed hat is known as a fez. Although it might seem a strange choice of headwear, the attention-drawing fez serves as an effective symbol and helps increase public awareness of the group. For the Shriners, the pointing and giggles from lookie-loos are a small price to pay for visibility.
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