EVANSTON — The Southwest Wyoming Shrine Club recently presented a donation of $14,000 to the Shriners Hospital in Salt Lake City. Evanston Shriners, Don Biggs, Clarence Vranish and Bill Orvosh along with the presiding potentate (head) of the KOREIN Shrine in Rawlins, Johnny Mote and his wife Kathryn Mote traveled to Salt Lake City together to present the check.

That evening the Shrine members entertained 45 guests, including the Wyoming Shrine Football Game team, cheerleaders and their families for dinner at a local restaurant in Salt Lake City. 

According to Orvosh, a longstanding tradition of the Shriners is that the wife of the presiding potentate chooses a charity every year for a special donation. Kathryn Mote chose the Shriners Hospital POP program to develop an adjustable prosthetic leg.

“The Masons have several fundraising activities throughout the year such as selling onions in May at several business lots on Front Street to raise money for the donations we give,” Orvosh said.

Orvosh said there are 22 Shriners hospitals in the U.S. that provide a variety of services but the one in Salt Lake City only does orthopedics and prosthetics. He said the Shriners hospitals are no-pay; however if a person has insurance, they sign it over to the hospital for billing. Shriners will even pay for mileage and LifeFlight if there is a need. 

Orvosh is the secretary and treasurer of Evanston Lodge No. 4. He said in order to become a Shriner, one must first be a Free Mason and all religions are welcome. Evanston Masonic Lodge No. 4 and Kemmerer Masonic Lodge No. 33 are part of the Southwest Wyoming Shrine Club. The Evanston Shrine Club currently has 25 members.