EL PASO, Texas -- The El Maida Shriners in El Paso have been around since 1909 and since then they have been committed to providing pediatric specialty care in orthopedics, burns, and spinal cord and other injures. In all, there are 22 Shriners Children's Hospitals around the United States. If a child in El Paso or Juarez needs the specialized care, the El Paso Shriners help to get them to one of those hospitals.

"We are a very well-kept secret for some reason, but we would like to get the word out. We will help almost all burned and crippled child below the age 18 and we will take care of them. There is no cost to the family," said Bob Muzzy of the El Paso Shriners.

El Pasoans Frank and Michelle Marez acknowledge they knew very little about the El Maida Shrine Center in El Paso prior to their daughter's accident. Mia Marez was only 1 year old when she burned her hands. "She put her hands on the oven door," said Michelle Marez, Mia's mother. Mia suffered third-degree burns and needed skin graphs.

"My wife got on the internet, actually, because her mom said she had heard good things about the Shriners," said Frank Marez. Mia's parents eventually took her to the Shriners Children's Burn Hospital in Sacramento, Calif. Now the toddler is doing great and expected to make a full recovery.

Michelle said she is thankful for the Shriners who helped take care of her daughter and answer her questions along the way. She added, "With this we have learned a lot. We have learned about their organization and how this wonderful group of people is willing to help anybody."

It's a commitment the El Paso Shriners are proud to be a part of. "It just really makes you feel good to be a Shriner. I think the Shriner fraternity as a whole, yes, is making a big difference," said Paul Rodgers, El Paso Shriner.

The El Maida Shrine Center in El Paso will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year. If you would like to find out more about them or learn how to donated to their children's hospitals or to the local facility, call 915-562-1444.

The Shrine Circus in El Paso is scheduled for Jan. 6, 2010, at the El Paso County Coliseum and they are have a fund raiser raffle. Tickets are $100. One person will win a brand new vehicle. The drawing will be in October.