The Elks National Foundation, established in 1928, helps Elks build stronger communities through programs that support youth, serve veterans, and meet needs in areas where Elks live and work.
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A CIP Pioneer
by Senior Programs Associate Colleen Muszynski
The CIP office, and the world,
has lost a kind, selfless champion. Sharon Kolkhorst, member of Coos Bay, Ore.,
Lodge No. 1160 and Weekend Share Bear
Snack Packs program project manager, passed away last week. With Sharon at
the helm, Coos Bay was one of the first Lodges to receive a $10,000 Impact
Grant for their Weekend Share Bear Snack
Packs program when the grant was introduced in 2008. Sharon’s commitment to
and passion for the program has continued since—in 2017, the Lodge was awarded
its ninth consecutive Impact Grant. Only one other Lodge from the original
Impact Grant class can say the same. In fact, Sharon and her husband Lou have
helped the Lodge secure more than $115,000 in CIP grants since 2006.
However, life is about more
than money. It’s about creating lasting relationships and leaving your
community better than you found it. Sharon did just that. I had the pleasure of
meeting Sharon and Lou on an Impact Grant site visit to Coos Bay in 2015. It’s
a trip I’ll never forget—not because of the crazy beauty of the Oregon coast or
the good food, but because of the welcoming warmth of Sharon and the Coos Bay Elks
family. I got the chance to see the snack pack program in action, meet all the
dedicated volunteers and talk with partners who have directly benefited from
the program. What was clear was that Sharon was the steady, organized,
passionate glue that held it all together. What was also clear was that she
wasn’t in it for recognition—we could hardly get her on camera to talk about
the project!
As with anyone who truly makes
an impact, Sharon’s actions were what spoke volumes. Thanks to her hard work
with the Impact Grant over the years, thousands of elementary school students
experiencing food insecurity in the Coos Bay area did not go hungry over the
weekend. I am grateful for that trip and lucky to have worked with her these
past couple of years. Sharon embodied the true meaning of selfless service, and
she will be missed.
Reflections from the SAB President By Kat Nakamura 2019 MVS Scholar Hi, Elks Family! I’m Kat Nakamura, a 2019 MVS Scholar currently serving as the president of the Scholar Advisory Board. My time with the Elks has been a transformative experience, not only providing me with financial support for my education but opening the door to a nurturing community of like-minded individuals and remarkable opportunities. My journey began when I applied for the Elks Most Valuable Student scholarship, and little did I know it was just the beginning of a life-changing adventure. Months later, my mom encouraged me to apply to join the Scholar Advisory Board. Initially hesitant, I thought there was no chance of being accepted. Little did I realize that this decision would lead me to one of my most cherished experiences throughout college. The Scholar Advisory Board are the representatives that advise the ENF on scholar relations. Apart from being on the board, members attend the Elks National Conve...
By: Aditi V. Patel, 2019 Most Valuable Student scholar Last week, I had the pleasure of serving alongside 20 other amazing Elks scholars as a part of the Tampa Elks Scholar Service Trip. I did my research before the trip and found that Hurricane Ian had displaced more than 40,000 Floridians in September 2022—I wanted to do something to help! After landing in Tampa, we got right to work by sorting a busload (literally) of clothing that Tampa, Fla., Lodge No. 708 collected from the community for Greater Pine Island. We organized each item of clothing by size, made sure each item was in good condition, and placed them into bags. Whenever there weren’t clothes at my table, I would shift to another station to help others, and I saw other scholars doing the same. It was amazing to see everyone laboriously working for hours without any complaints, learning names and fun facts as we went. We had dinner at the Tampa Elks Lodge, which is where I had my first genuine conversations w...
by Raleigh Cury, Elks Scholar Fellow My first week as the Elks Scholar Fellow has been a whirlwind. Unfortunately, there was a hiccup with my work laptop, as it seems to have been either lost in the mail or stolen from my doorstep. Luckily, the ENF was able to get a second one to me quickly! Besides that, it has been a smooth transition into a new job! Everyone has been warm and welcoming, and I am very excited for what is to come. I have started brainstorming about the Winter Elks Scholar Service Trip. My initial idea is to provide disaster relief in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Ian. We might not do disaster relief, but Florida has become a strong contender for the trip. As a life-long resident of the South, I am especially excited to have a job that will take me all over the country. In fact, I will be flying to Chicago for the job for the first time in less than a month. I graduated in 2021 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I was heavil...
Sharon is beloved by many. Your words capture who she still is in our hearts.
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