Elks National Foundation Blog

Jocelyn Moya Programs Assistant Community Investments Program How long have you worked at the ENF? Just under two months. I started the first week in January. What projects are you/your department working on right now? Grants, grants, and more grants! But seriously, mostly approving Community Investments Program grant applications and reviewing Final Report Forms. It’s actually a very exciting time for us since we just got approved to increase the amounts on Promise and Gratitude Grants and we’re approaching the Community Investments Program’s 10th year. What’s your favorite part of working at the ENF? I really enjoy reviewing Final Report Forms. I get a good look into the projects we fund and how they’re impacting local communities. Most of them come with pictures and those are a lot of fun to look through. Describe your average day at the ENF. My average day at the ENF starts with responding to emails from local Elks Lodges followed by sorting through the mail to ...

Anastasia Pineschi 2014 Legacy Awards Recipient   University of California, Los Angeles—Theatrical Set Design Major Sponsored by Sun City Ariz., Lodge No. 2559 Elks scholars are well-rounded and dedicate their time to the things they are passionate about. For Anastasia Pineschi, she balanced her interests in athletics and the arts while also giving back to her community. At 9 years-old, Anastasia began taking fencing lessons at the encouragement of her father. Through practice and dedication, she became an internationally ranked fencer and a team captain by high school and continues to develop her skills. She was also a soprano soloist for the Mira Costa Vocal Ensemble, while serving as Artist Council President at the National Children’s Chorus and performing the principal part in several operas at the Los Angeles Opera. She also had a strong performance academically, being a member of the National Honors Society and the California Scholarship Federation, an organization t...

Savannah Pham 2014 Most Valuable Student Scholar   Stanford University—Psychology Major Sponsored by Temecula Valley, Calif., Lodge No. 2801 Savannah Pham leads her life according to an Abraham Lincoln quote, “I have an irrepressible desire to live until I can be assured the world is a better for my having lived in it.” Savannah is already on her way to making the world a better place. In high school, Savannah was active in the Air Force JROTC program, serving as a class officer and senator, and rising in the ranks to become a Cadet Commander for her unit of nearly 300 students. She was also a leader in academics, being a member of the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. She also volunteered her time with the Murrieta Youth Advisory Committee, planning events for local teens to keep them engaged and out of trouble, while also serving as a lawyer for Youth Court, and organizing events for local senior citizens. Beyond the classroom, she...

Greenwood, Miss., Lodge No. 854 With the help of the Elks from Greenwood, Miss., Lodge No. 854, Sgt. John Pittman Drive—a major route in the city of Greenwood—is looking more beautiful than ever. The Lodge used an Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to partner with Boy Scout Troop 200, the Greenwood Department of Public Works, and local volunteers to improve the appearance of this major road.    Thanks to the hard work and dedication of all the individuals involved in making this project a success, 214 trees were planted along the route. “The Lodge came together and made this a success,” says Community Investments Program Project Manager Walter Jordan. “More members and citizens have expressed a desire to participate in the continuation of the project next year.” A 501(c)(3) public charity, the Elks National Foundation helps Elks build stronger communities through programs that support youth, serve veterans, and meet needs in areas where Elks live and ...