Elks National Foundation Blog

Venice/Nokomis, Fla., Lodge No. 1854 Thanks to Venice/Nokomis, Fla., Lodge No. 1854, local families in need are well fed. The Lodge partnered with All Faiths Food Bank Mobile Cupboard program and used its Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to donate food and volunteer time for three months this year. More than 100 families received food twice a month from Elks volunteers like Wayne East, Merle Tarr and Sven Nelson, pictured above. The Elks National Foundation helps Lodges serve their communities by offering $2,000 Gratitude Grants. Lodges are eligible to apply for Gratitude Grants after meeting the National President’s per-capita goal for Foundation giving. To find out more about Gratitude Grants and the Community Investments Program, visit www.elks.org/enf/community .   

Orange, Calif., Lodge No. 1475 Orange, Calif., Lodge No. 1475 used its Community Investments Program Gratitude Grant to promote literacy. The Lodge purchased dictionaries for all the 3rd graders in the county—a total of 2,400 students! Here, students are showing off their brand new books. The ENF awards $2,000 Gratitude Grants to Lodges to directly address local needs. Lodges are eligible to apply for Gratitude Grants after meeting the GER’s per-capita goal. To find out more about Gratitude Grants and the Community Investments Program, visit www.elks.org/enf/community .   

Santa Cruz, Calif., Lodge No. 824 Summer is in full swing for Santa Cruz, Calif., Lodge No. 824! The Lodge used its Promise Grant to hold a youth golf camp. Watch this video to see photos of the happy golfers. The ENF awards Promise Grants worth up to $2,000 to the first 500 Lodges that pledge to host an event that helps build the character and competence of youth in their community. To find out more about Promise Grants, visit www.elks.org/enf/community .

New Albany, Ind., Lodge No. 270 New Albany, Ind., Lodge No. 270 helps local police help local kids. Elks used their $1,000 Gratitude Grant plus an additional $1,000 in Lodge funds to enhance the D.A.R.E. Program, helping kids to make healthy choices. The ENF awards Gratitude Grants to Lodges to directly address local needs. Lodges are eligible to apply for Gratitude Grants after meeting the GER’s per-capita goal. In 2011-12, these grants are worth $2,000. To find out more about Gratitude Grants, visit www.elks.org/enf/community .   

Galesburg, Ill., Lodge No. 894 These shoes are made for walking—thanks to Galesburg, Ill., Lodge No. 894. The Lodge used its Gratitude Grant to fund Project Shoes. Elks volunteers took students in need in to WalMart, where the students picked out brand new shoes and pairs of socks. In a note to the Lodge, Kevin, a local student, writes, “Thank you! I love my shoes so much. I will wear them every day.”

By Mary Morgan, Programs Associate When you get off the plane at the Las Vegas airport, you are surrounded by larger-than-life-sized pictures of all the local celebrities—Barry Manilow, Celine Dion and even Louie Anderson all smiling down to welcome you to town. After a recent trip, I would like to add Wayne Leroy of North Las Vegas, Nev., Lodge No. 2353 to this welcome committee. Assistant Director Debbie Kahler Doles and I had the opportunity to visit with Wayne, who is the Project Manager for his Lodge’s Impact Grant , the Veterans Outreach Project. The Lodge uses its grant to help run the Las Vegas Veterans Stand Down, but that’s just the kick-off event. The Lodge continues its outreach to homeless veterans throughout the year, partnering with U.S. VETS and other groups to hold support events. Wayne marks this year-round support as the part of the project he is most proud of. As well he should be—the Stand Down reached out to 477 veterans last year, but the rest of the events ...

By Debbie Doles, Assistant Director As Jim mentioned in his February 18 post, we’ve been trying to work in side visits to our Community Investments Program grant recipients whenever we’re out in the field. We had another opportunity to do so last week during a planned trip to the Region 7 Hoop Shoot contest in Las Vegas, Nev. Our Programs Associate Mary Morgan and I left the cold confines of Chicago on Wednesday, February 16, and flew to a much warmer Las Vegas. We rented a car and drove two hours northeast to visit with one of our superstar Impact Grant Lodges—St. George ‘Dixie’ Lodge No. 1743 and its “Pantry Partners for Success” project. Thanks to the ENF Impact Grant, this Millcreek student can focus on school without worrying about funding her next meal. Mary arranged all the details with the Impact Grant “Pantry Partners for Success” project managers Wayne Preston and Betty Archambault. Before we headed to the high school to see the pantry in action, our first...

El Cajon, Calif., Lodge No. 1812 El Cajon, Calif., Lodge No. 1812 uses its Impact Grant to provide free music education to local youth. Elks work with the East County Youth Symphony to ensure that every child who wants to learn has an instrument. They also fundraise for the orchestra, and organize, publicize, and host all the symphony’s concerts. That’s the sound of a beautiful partnership!

Trustee Frank Garland and Director Jim O'Kelley check out the new greenhouse. By ENF Director Jim O'Kelley  We’ve been trying to work in side visits to our Community Investments Program grant recipients whenever we’re out in the field. So, last week, during my brief (late Tuesday afternoon to Thursday morning) trip to Myrtle Beach, S.C., for a budget meeting with our Board of Trustees, I shoehorned a visit to Murrell’s Inlet Lodge No. 2797’s Impact Grant project. The Lodge received a $10,000 Impact Grant in October 2010 to partner with the Georgetown Disabilities Board on a gardening program for adults with severe disabilities. The centerpiece of the program is a greenhouse that the Elks built. Each week, about 15 Lodge members volunteer at the greenhouse at classes that teach gardening skills to the clients. The gardening program will culminate with the clients bringing their produce to a farmers market.   My window for the visit was small. The Board meetin...

 BREAKING NEWS! The ENF Board of Trustees has doubled the funding for the Community Investments Program to $4.6 million from $2.3 million. This increase in funding will allow Lodges to do even more to strengthen their communities. Every week from now until the new fiscal year begins in April, we will highlight a Lodge that has used a Community Investments Program grant to make a meaningful difference in its community. Long Beach, Wash., Lodge No. 1937 Long Beach, Wash., Lodge No. 1937 used its Gratitude Grant to support a new branch of the Boys & Girls Club in their community. Elks purchased games, books and sports equipment for the club, and also volunteer their time. The happy recipients pose here with their supplies!