Monday, July 15, 2024
When you first meet Mound resident Sherry Hopson, you would never guess that she possesses a crown, which comes with the title of “Queen.” In 2007, Hopson joined the Daughters of the Nile, which is an internal fraternal organization for women 18 years of age or older. They are related by birth or marriage to a Shriner, Master Mason, or a Daughter of the Nile. “I have close friends in the Eastern Star who encouraged me to join the Daughters of the Nile. My late husband was not a Shriner, but he was a Master Mason and our son is as well, so I joined through that connection,” Hopson said.
After being a part of the organization for seventeen years, Hopson was recently installed as a “Queen” at the Merak Temple No. 104 in Waco. According to Hopson, she said that becoming a queen was a building process having to serve in other capacities and finally being elected. Hopson explained, “Texas has 12 Daughters of the Nile Temples and, therefore, 12 Queens. I am one of those Queens. We meet monthly and have many money-making projects that allow us the opportunity to help the Shriners in giving all our money earned to the Shriners Children Hospitals all over the world. That is our one and only philanthropy, and we are very proud of that.” Hopson continued, “The families of children in the Shriners Children Hospitals pay nothing. The hospital services are free to these families, thanks to the Shriners and the Daughters of the Nile.”
Founded in Seattle, Washington in 1913, Daughters of the Nile members total over 15,000 in 126 cities throughout the United States, Canada, and South America. Their one and only charitable endeavor is Shriners Children’s Hospital and their network of medical facilities throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. They are renowned for providing the highest quality care to children with neuromusculoskeletal conditions, burn injuries, cleft lip and palate, and many other special healthcare needs within a compassionate, family-centered, collaborative care environment. Shriners Children also provide for the education of physicians and other healthcare professionals and cutting-edge research into new treatments and procedures to improve the lives of children and their families.
The Daughters of the Nile contribute monetary donations of over $2 million annually to Shriners Children’s through our Foundations. Since 1924, they have contributed over $72 million. Each year, their members give generously of their time and talents by providing more than 180,000 hours of volunteer time at the hospitals. In addition, they sew clothing, quilts, and special projects requested by the hospitals, provide books, toys, games, and other educational/recreational materials, and sponsor parties for patients and their families each month. The annual value of these hours and donated items is in excess of another $1 million annually.
“We visit as many Shriners Children Hospitals as we can, which allows us the opportunity to see how our money is being used. They do such great work and, of course, the children are such a delight. These children have many obstacles to face, and they are always smiling and happy – and that makes us happy, too,” Hopson said.
