Elks National Foundation Blog

Charles, City, Iowa, Lodge No. 418 Elks at Charles, City, Iowa, Lodge No. 418 know how to throw a party! The Lodge used its Promise Grant to hold Halloween, Christmas and Easter parties for children of deployed Iowa National Guard soldiers. After the celebrations wind down, Elks send notes to soldiers with pictures of their kids at the parties. The Elks also support these families by fundraising for those in need. The ENF awards $2,000 Promise Grants 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 .

Rancho Cordova, Calif., Lodge No. 2484 As part of the Catch the Spirit Impact Grant Project, Rancho Cordova, Calif., Lodge No. 2484 recently hosted a Welcome Home spaghetti dinner for about 200 California National Guard soldiers and their families. These soldiers recently returned from Afghanistan, where they spent the past year performing Medical Evacuation duties for wounded soldiers. Here, Project Manager Bob Burns Sr. (left) and ER Dave Ferguson (right) pose with a few of their guests. The ENF awards Impact Grants to help Lodges significantly address unmet needs in Elks communities. Impact Grants are competitive grants worth up to $10,000 and are open to all Lodges. To find out more about Impact Grants, visit www.elks.org/enf/community .