Organized 1961...

Our primary purpose is to promote fun and laughter to people of ALL ages!

The trademark of our Clown Unit is the Paddy Wagon and our members are represented as both Keystone Kops and Clowns.

As members of the Shriners, we support the twenty (22) hospitals that Shriners own and operate, free of charge, for children under the age of 18. The children receive medical care for orthopedic, burn and spinal cord injuries.

We are available for Parades, Walk-arounds, Hospital Visitations, etc. If you’re interested in having us entertain at one of your Functions, please contact one of the Officers listed below.

All monies received into the Sphinx Shrine Funster Unit goes into our hospitals, transportation fund, Sneaker Fund and Unit expenses.

As Shrine Clowns, we have a fund called the Sneaker Fund. The monies received in the Sneaker Fund goes into Burns Research at our Burn hospitals. Our Boston Burn Hospital was the first in the nation, in conjunction with Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, to develop artificial skin.

FUNSTER 2009 Officers:

It is with great pleasure we announce that this year was the 20th Anniversary of N.E.C.I. (North East Clown Institute), formally N.E.S.C.I., for the weekend (Jan. 16th thru 18th)

Three of our clowns placed in the competition. Tthey are (see below from L-R):

• Dominic "Dizzy" Gionfriddo for 1st Place - Character
• Charles "Speckles" Houska for 3rd Place - Auguste
• Norm "Giggles" Cormier for 4th Place - Whiteface.

Congratulations all!

(click to enlarge image)

(click to enlarge image)

See the Funsters at Brown's Harvest
in Windsor - Oct 2008

Proceeds from BOTH weekends were donated to the Shriners Springfield Children's Hospital!