Jerry Gantt Reelected President Of Our Philanthropy

Jerry G. Gantt of Lincolnton, North Carolina, was re-elected President of Shriners Hospitals for Children in Tampa, Florida, on July 11, 2020. As president, he also serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Gantt is currently serving his 16th year as a member of the Board of Directors for Shriners Hospitals for Children. He served as Imperial Potentate in 2015-2016.

An Able Leader

As Chairman of the Board, Gantt will continue to guide our health care system, Shriners Hospitals for Children, toward a more efficient and effective care model that meets both the needs of today’s patients and families and the expectations of the health care industry. 

Long-range plans also include creating Centers of Excellence that will offer care for all four of our major service lines and developing many more access points to our health care system by establishing more local affiliations and collaborative efforts, as well as expanding outreach efforts. In addition, Gantt is determined to work with the leadership teams to ensure that all our resources, including beds and buildings, are used wisely, effectively and efficiently. Implementing these changes will allow Shriners Hospitals to effectively reach more kids in more places, and offer our unique brand of life-changing health care to as many children as possible, regardless of where they live. 

Gantt has proven his ability to work well with all types of people and balance different viewpoints, which will continue to help him successfully lead Shriners Hospitals during a time of significant changes and unexpected crises.

A Little Background

Gantt became a Mason in response to the organization’s compassion and concern for others, especially orphaned children. He was raised a Master Mason in 1971 and quickly learned of another organization that helped children. He became a member of Oasis Shriners in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1972. In 1980, he joined Arabia Shriners in Houston, Texas, where he held numerous offices, including being chairman of the Five-Year Planning Committee and serving as Potentate in 2002.

In 1993, he was appointed to the Board of Governors of Shriners Hospitals for Children — Houston, a position he held for 10 years, serving as Chairman in 2002 and 2003. In 2005, he was elected to the Imperial line as Imperial Outer Guard.

As a member of the national Board of Directors, he has served on virtually every committee, including Budget, Building and Equipment, Public Relations and Strategic Planning. He has also served as Liaison Officer to seven Shriners Hospitals. 

As Imperial Potentate in 2015-2016, he worked to strengthen the relationship between headquarters’ staff, the Boards of Governors, the national Joint Boards and the temple Divans. 

Facing the Future

While the 2020 Imperial year is starting under difficult circumstances, as the pandemic continues to disrupt lives and plans around the globe, Gantt is confident of the future of our organizations.

“We are people of hope. Although we are unsure of some aspects of the future, we are continuing to prepare Shriners Hospitals for Children for its second hundred years, and implement our strategic plans to restructure and streamline our health care system to meet the needs of the future, and the expectations of both our patients and families and the health care industry,” said Gantt. 

“Our shared determination, commitment and compassion will see us through this crisis, and on to an even stronger future. We remain dedicated to the mission of Shriners Hospitals for Children, and we continue to look to better days ahead, and the end of the pandemic.”