Elks National Foundation Blog

By 2013 Most Valuable Student scholar and Elks Scholar Advisory Board member Nate Baker  Nate Baker, 2013 MVS scholar sponsored by Tyrone, Pa., Lodge No. 212, is the freshman representative on the Elks Scholar Advisory Board and new to college life. Throughout his first year of college, we followed Nate's adventures during his first year at Cornell through monthly blog posts . Freshman year of college taught me a lot of lessons. We’re going to set those lessons about international relations, statistics, Spanish and history aside for now and focus on “less-conventional” ones learned through experience and trial-and-error. It’s not that Just War Theory, multiple regression, and the Jacobite Rebellion aren't important—they have their place, but summer’s here. Here are a few things that no guidebook or college tour will tell you about your first year at school. It’s always freezing and there's no sun. Take Vitamin D. This one is vital. The first cold days of the fa

Galesburg, Ill., Lodge No. 894 Using an Elks National Foundation Promise Grant , Galesburg, Ill., Lodge No. 894 helped children in need find a new pair of shoes. Elks partnered with the local school district and its teachers to determine which students would most benefit from new shoes. Each selected child paired with an Elks volunteer, received two new pairs of socks and was fitted to make sure their new shoes were the right size. “Our project successfully helped 350 needy children in our community receive a new pair of shoes,” says Community Investments Program Project Manager Alphonse Urena. Elks are committed to America’s future. To build the character and competence of local youth, the Elks National Foundation awards $2,000 Promise Grants to the first 500 Lodges that pledge to host an eligible youth event. To find out more about Promise Grants and the Community Investments Program, visit www.elks.org/enf/community .

Telluride, Colo., Lodge No. 692 After a long winter, we’re looking forward to summer activities like gardening, swimming and biking. But kids from Telluride, Colorado have a different activity on their minds—sledding! Using an Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant , Telluride, Colo., Lodge No. 692 partnered with the local organization One To One to hold a cardboard sled derby. One To One helps keep at-risk youth on the right path by pairing them with adult mentors. Each year, they hold the cardboard sled derby to teach kids about creativity, critical thinking and good sportsmanship. This year, the Elks were there to share their support. After cheering on the contestants, Elks prepared and served a barbeque lunch to the sledders and their families. “Thanks to the Gratitude Grant, we were able to continue forging a relationship with One To One,” says Community Investments Program Project Manager Cynthia Wyszynski. “We’re also working on cultivating new members because of