Elks National Foundation Blog

Kyle Bort has been an EEG recipient since 2014. He was appointed to serve on the 2017-18 Elks National Foundation Scholar Advisory Board. Below, Kyle shares a reflection regarding his connection to the Elks National Foundation and his time at the Elks National Convention in Reno, Nevada. If you know a student who could benefit from an Emergency Educational Grant , please email scholarship@elks.org to request a copy of the 2017-18 application. I had a great time on the Winter Service Trip.  In many ways, my experience with the Elks National Foundation has really come full circle. When my dad served in the Elks, I was never really aware of the ENF. After his passing in 2009, I was really unsure about my future. The loss of a parent is a very impactful experience. It changes you in so many ways. During this time, I started to lose the connection with my local Lodge. When I transferred to Missouri State, I began to explore grant opportunities. After all, the cost of a four-...

By Lois Kundel Davenport, Iowa, Lodge No. 298 An Elks National Foundation recognition night–what a great way to thank and recognize our ENF donors and also highlight the great work of the Foundation! I had heard, more than once, that our Lodge members hear “ENF” all the time, but most of them probably don’t even know what the letters stand for or understand what the Foundation does or is all about. In brainstorming this event, I tried to come up with a way to make the night more memorable and real for our donors, a way for them connect with the who, what, why and how of their donations. About that same time and as scholarship chair, I was notified that one of our Most Valuable Student scholarship applicants was awarded a $4,000 MVS scholarship. The light bulb went on and my brain engaged–invite our scholarship recipient to the recognition event–that would be a great way to help make the connection. I contacted the Foundation and with their help we had four Elks scholars in ...

By Emergency Educational Grant Recipient Reed Tabor When I was first asked by Terry McMichael to come to the Kentucky State Hoop Shoot Contest my first thought was—what is the Elks Hoop Shoot contest ? I had no idea what I was getting into but I agreed to come anyway. As soon as I entered the gym I knew this was something serious. You could see the nervousness on the contestants with every shot they took. It was unlike any competition I had seen before, and to these kids it meant everything. That’s when I found out about how the Hoop Shoot works and that these kids weren’t just trying to be the best in the state of Kentucky—they were trying to become the best in the country.  It was amazing to see the contestants, some of which were half my age, stand at the free throw line and knock down 95 percent of the shots they took. It was a great experience for me to be able to a part of such a great Elks program. It was nice to meet all the Elks volunteers that give so much of their...

by ENF Programs Coordinator Ashley Brown Pittsburgh may be known as the city of bridges and steel, but it could also be known as a city of Elks scholars, many of whom attend the city’s numerous universities. As this was my first opportunity to travel on behalf of the Elks National Foundation , I was incredibly excited to learn how to best serve our scholars to ensure their scholarships aided them in achieving their educational goals. Programs Relationship Associate Anne Stretz and I recently visited the Steel City to attend the National Scholarship Providers Association’s annual conference. While we spent the days learning how to best serve and engage our scholars, we were able to spend some time connecting with our Pittsburgh scholars over dinner at a local restaurant. I was looking forward to putting faces with names and meeting the scholars whose goals we were helping to make possible. It was an amazing opportunity to connect and learn about what they are involved in an...