Elks National Foundation Blog

by 2016 Elks Scholar Alum of the Year, Capt. Rachel M. Russo, MD, MAS Today is an historic day. We faced an unprecedented election between two rivals, a woman and a businessman. With many Americans holding strong opinions about the outcome, we are all experiencing the emotions that come along with electing a new president. It is a time to reach out to each other and celebrate the things we have in common as we all move forward together. The rights to vote, to express dissenting opinions, and to come together in unity are freedoms that have been hard-earned by the men and women of this country over generations. Since World War II the Elks National Veterans Service Commission has been dedicated to serving these men and women who spent their lives securing our freedoms. In this month of November, Veteran’s Remembrance Month, I’d like to say thank you to the Elks, and to all of my fellow veterans and military members for their unwavering commitment. As Americans, we all want...

by Youth Programs Associate Billy Donnelly   I have been fortunate enough to experience many different not-for-profit organizations, both as a volunteer and as a staff member. In my opinion, nonprofit work is the most rewarding thing that I can do both personally and professionally. Working a hard day and then working a hard day’s night can leave you feeling like a dog, but when you are invested, and you care about what you are working for, it’s different. I am not going to pretend that doing nonprofit work magically makes everything okay. After a long day your feet are still going to hurt, your back is still going to ache, you’re still going to be hungry and tired, but it’s different. It’s worth it. And you know that it’s worth it. There are plenty of idioms that can sum up this sensation such as “You get out of it what you put into it” or “You reap what you sow”, and each one is more true than the last. Don’t believe me? Let me explain what it is like in Casper, #Wybroming. ...

  Sean Pringle is the Scholarship Chair at the Oceano/Five Cities, Calif., Lodge No. 2504 where he has been a member for two years. Upon receiving his MVS scholarship in 2010, Sean served on the ENF Scholar Advisory Board (SAB) for four years. He graduated in spring of 2016 with a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering (structural emphasis) from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo.   We encourage Elks scholars to share their story, give their time, and join the Order. Hear about Sean’s journey from share, to give, to join below. SHARE Each scholar has a different story and experience to share. We come from all different backgrounds, have led different volunteer events/activities, and are passionate about pursuing a great career after college. When you consider how many current Elks scholars and alumni are out there, we make up a rather large community, all with one central connection­ — we’re part of the much larger Elks family.   I became involved with t...

by Hannah Jones Donor Services Assistant Hi all! My name is Hannah Jones, and I am the new Donor Services Assistant at the Elks National Foundation. I joined the Foundation in mid-July, so I’ve been immersed in this world for over two months now, and wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to introduce myself to Elkdom at large. In case you’re wondering what a Donor Services Assistant actually does, I’ll allow you a quick glimpse into my modest yet surprisingly colorful cubicle to find out. Usually a significant chunk of my day is spent talking to Elks from all over the country on the phone to answer different questions, especially questions related to donations and recognition. I help Lodge ENF Fundraising Chairs and Secretaries navigate our website, understand reports and standings, and explain how our donations are processed. I also spend a lot of time reaching out to Lodge Chairs when we receive remittances that don’t balance, don’t have a list of donors, or ...

  by Jenna Johnson Elks Scholar Fellow  Although no one wants to see summer go, here in the scholarship office, we’ve been excitingly anticipating the change of season because we’ve been hard at work planning several Elks scholar service opportunities for coming months. Fall is filled with good things—from football to pumpkin flavored everything, but most importantly, there are lots of Elks scholar opportunities to get involved in that you won’t want to miss out on! Check out the calendar of events below.  1. While August has probably brought days of back-to-school shopping, reconnecting with friends and trying to figure out how late you can wake up and still make it to your first class on time, it has also brought the anticipation of another Elks Scholar Service Trip! The application for the Winter Scholar Service Trip in Dallas is now posted and will remain open until October 15. If you’re an Elks scholar, 18 or older, I encourage you to click here to...

by Nathan Miller 2014 MVS scholar and rising junior at the University of Notre Dame Close your eyes. Let me paint you a mental picture… Oh wait, you’re reading; never mind, don’t close your eyes!! But, imagine this–a place where you’re surrounded by inspiring people, delicious food, constant smiles, unending laughter, and the energetic ambiance of downtown Chicago. And if that wasn’t enough, to top it all off, people are trying to give you money for college! Welcome to the Elks Leadership Weekend! Now in its third year, the Leadership Weekend brings together the top 20 National Finalists for the Most Valuable Student Contest. In 2014, I took part in the inaugural Weekend. Since then, I have returned from my humble abode at Notre Dame to serve as an Elks Scholar Leader the past two years. I get to share my own college experiences to help the new scholars prepare for the transition and have a lot of fun throughout the weekend making friendships and memories. Through...