THE GAME THAT CHANGES LIVES

East-West Shrine Football Game

Since 1952, Shriners from Oregon and Idaho have partnered with graduating high school seniors from across Oregon to put on the East-West Shrine Football Game. This started in 1952 when the Shriners from Union and Umatilla Counties hosted the first East-West All Star Game, and has continued since, incorporating Shriners patients and support from local businesses and communities. This year marked the 70th annual game, and 50 years in Baker City.

Since the start of the East-West Game, over $5 million has been raised to support the Shriners Children’s Portland Hospital. For 100 years, Shriners Children’s has provided high-quality, specialty medical care to children and families regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status.

In 2023, Shriners from Al Kader (Wilsonville, Ore.), Hillah (Medford, Ore.) and El Korah (Boise, Idaho) came together for the 70th annual game, along with the community of Baker City and representatives from Shriners Children’s Portland.

Aside from supporting Shriners Children’s, the East-West Game becomes a melting pot of fellowship and public relations between the Masonic family and the community. Baker City welcomes us every year with open arms as Freemasons, family, Masonic youth organizations, and Shriners descend from all over the Pacific Northwest for this game. Even past players (roughly 4,000 of them over the years) make the pilgrimage to watch the game. Every year we also honor two young women and two young men as Queens and Co-Captains to represent Shriners Children’s with their teams.

Some of the community events this year included multiple barbeque dinners to honor the players; the Queens lunch to honor the East and West Queens, presenting them with their sash and crowns; the community parade which honors our players, cheerleaders, Queens and Co-Captains, as well as showcases Oregon Freemasonry Grand Lodge Officers, Shriners, Daughters of the Nile, DeMolay and Rainbow Girls, as well as entries from the rest of the community, including a steer which is raffled off annually during half time.

If you have never attended the Oregon East-West Shrine Game, you are missing out on so much fun and fellowship between our Masonic Brothers, families, and the community.

Sincerely and Fraternally,

Kristopher A. Torrey Ashland Lodge No. 23