Patient Ambassadors

The Shriners Children’s Open brings PGA TOUR golf to Las Vegas and also brings some very special representatives from the tournament’s namesake and charity, Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Each year, 22 patients are chosen to represent the healthcare system during the tournament. The patients serve as standard bearers – carrying the scores of professional golfers as they compete in the tournament, while making memories that will last a lifetime. The Shriners Hospitals representatives enjoy a rare “inside the ropes” opportunity at the PGA TOUR event where they meet and interact with the pros, patients from across the country, Shriners and the Shriners Hospitals for Children community.

Also in attendance are the Shriners Hospitals for Children National Patient Ambassadors, who are chosen each year to represent the health care system’s patients. The ambassadors spend a year telling their stories of perseverance in the face of adversity and the ways Shriners Hospitals for Children has made a dramatic, life-changing difference in their lives.

As part of their participation in the tournament, the ambassadors’ and standard bearers’ stories and photos appear in the tournament program, and are also shared with the Golf Channel, which televises the tournament, reaching over 700 million homes across 240 countries worldwide!