The idea came about after a rare October snowstorm that barreled up the U.S. East Coast and left millions without power for up to a week. Shriners Hospital in Springfield, Mass warmly extended its hospitality to all its employees and families as a place of refuge during the storm recovery efforts. The hospital’s auditorium was utilized by many employees needing a place for school-aged children.

With schools closed for a week, Grace Macmillan, a Shriners patient and daughter of Kathy Macmillan, a Radiology Department employee, stayed and played in the hospital’s transformed auditorium. She quickly noticed that one of the x-ray rooms needed a kid’s touch, “A touch of Grace”. Grace’s vision to remodel the x-ray room included a big tree, lots of color and butterflies. Grace asked her best friend and classmate, Makenna Simis to help. Makenna is also a Shriners patient and daughter of Cindy Simis, a Prosthetics & Orthotics Department employee.

During their school vacation, Grace and Makenna met with Jessie Hagerman (of the Child Life Dept.) and John Palivoda (of the Engineering Dept.) to discuss the future design of the x-ray room. The girls had lots of fun working together decorating the room. Jessie helped them transform their vision into reality by providing supplies and decorating ideas. John painted the walls of the room, which coincidently reflected some of the employee badge colors of green and yellow. He also cut and carved out a six foot wooden tree. The radiology room is now 100% more kid friendly for all of the Shriners patients that enter thanks to a couple of patients with big imaginations!

Recently, members of the Daughters of the Nile, Ahlem Temple, visited Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield, Mass to make a special presentation. Ahlem (Melha spelled backwards) Temple started in 1947, and remains strong today with members actively working to support the hospital in numerous ways.

David Burstein, Esq., Chairman, Springfield Board of Governors, and other members of the board, Phillip Thomas (emeritus chairman), James Spear and Joseph Surprenant greeted the group.  Past Supreme Queen, Eleanor Green had the honor of presenting the crown worn by their first Queen in 1947 to the hospital. The crown was placed on display in the hospital lobby.

Who are the Daughters of the Nile?

The Daughters of the Nile (D.O.N.) is an international, fraternal organization for women who are related by birth or marriage to a Shriner, Master Mason, or Daughter of the Nile. They were founded in 1913 in Seattle, Washington and currently have over 32,000 members in 144 cities throughout the United States and Canada. To date the D.O.N. have contributed over $45 million dollars, making their organization the second biggest contributor to the hospitals, with Shriners International being the top contributor.

David H. Burstein, Esq. of Longmeadow, Mass has been appointed as Chairman of the Board of Governors for Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield, Mass.  Attorney Burstein has been a Melha Shriner for 15 years and is a member of the Samuel Sherwood Lodge and Scottish Rite 44. He has been a voting member of the Shriners Hospital Board of Governors for the past five years. 

His late father Merwyn was a Shriner, as is his brother Jeffrey, with whom he shares a law practice in downtown Springfield.  Attorney Burstein attended Tufts University in Medford, Mass and received his juris doctorate from The Washington College of Law at American University in Washington, DC.  He was admitted to practice in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Attorney Burstein specializes in civil and criminal litigation, and has done extensive work in the areas of bankruptcy, real estate, business law, tort law, contracts, probate law and estate planning.  He is also a licensed real estate broker, a licensed mediator, and an adjunct professor at Baypath College in Longmeadow, Mass teaching courses in mediation, business law and litigation.

Attorney Burstein is a past chairman of the Lawyer Referral Service of the Massachusetts Bar Association and a past member of the Board of Directors of the Holy Name Hockey Association.  He and his wife Jodie have two daughters, ages eight and ten.  David is an avid tennis player and enjoys traveling with his family.  According to David, serving on the Board of Governors for Shriners Hospital has been an incredibly rewarding experience.

Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield, Mass is fortunate to receive many donations during the holidays. This is post one of a 2 post tribute to the individuals and groups who passed through our doors this holiday season. Our sincere gratitude is also extended to those who were camera shy or wished to remain anonymous. The tree in many of the donor pictures is decorated entirely with origami ornaments and is assembled each year by dedicated volunteers.

Brownie Troop - Wilbraham, MA

Aeropostale store - Hadley, MA

Aeropostale stores - Berkshire Mall and Lee, MA

Community Service Learning Class - Longmeadow H.S.

Rachel Moore - book donation

Sabis International Charter School - Springfield, MA

Seven Hills Residence Home - Worcester, MA

Westfield State University - Dining Commons

Chapin Center, Springfield, MA

CT Dept of Corrections - Osborn

Big Y Supermarkets - Wilbraham and Allen-Cooley stores

CT Dept of Corrections - Osborn

Anonymous teddy bear donation

CT Dept of Corrections - Osborn

CT Dept of Corrections - Osborn