Elks National Foundation Blog

Calabash, N.C., Lodge No. 2679 Picasso in suspenders! Joe Adams of Calabash, N.C., Lodge No. 2679 puts in some volunteer time for his Lodge’s Impact Grant project. Calabash partners with two nearby Lodges to run its Children’s Shelter Improvement Project.  The Lodge is renovating the children’s area in the shelter so residents’ children can have a safe place to play and learn. 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 .

By Communications Specialist Kristen Scaletta Today, our office is busy with last minute preparations for the Hoop Shoot National Finals , which take place this Saturday in Springfield, Mass. I’m looking forward to leaving for my third National Hoop Shoot competition tomorrow morning. This year, I’m anticipating the contest even more, since I had the privilege to attend the Southwest Regional Hoop Shoot contest last month, so I already know some of the finalists. Thanks to Regional Director Jud Good and his wife Deb, Development Manager Kate Keating Edsey and I were able to travel to Dallas, Texas, to experience the regional contest in person. From the moment we arrived at the hotel for registration, we knew the contest would be big. When we pulled up, flags representing each state in the region greeted us at the doorway. Upon entering, we saw a table lined with trophies that were taller than most of the contestants. All of the Elks on Jud’s Hoop Shoot team gave us a warm welcom...

Walterboro, S.C., Lodge No. 1988 Walterboro, S.C., Lodge No. 1988 used its Gratitude Grant to partner with a local school for kids with disabilities. The Lodge purchased adaptive playground equipment, including swings, picnic tables and a playhouse. Above, Lodge members pose with the kids, who are thankful for the Elks’ serious commitment to playing around. 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. To find out more about Gratitude Grants, visit www.elks.org/enf/community .   

By Programs Relationship Associate Anne Shields Birds chirping. Tulips blooming. Sun shining. Elks scholars serving. Spring is here and Elks scholars are out in full force serving their communities as part of the Elks Scholar Month of Service . We’ve been promoting the Elks Scholar Month of Service since January, when the snow drifts were up to our office windows, so it’s hard to believe April actually arrived and with it, Elks scholar volunteers. Now we are in the midst of the Elks Scholar Month of Service, and we’ve seen a great response from Elks scholars across the country (which is no surprise, since Elks scholars are dedicated to service). So far this month, Elks scholars have served their communities in a variety of ways. Erika Barger, an Elks scholar alum, kayaked out to an island to pick up litter along the Shell Key Preserve beach near St. Petersburg, Fla. A group of seven Elks scholars at Brigham Young University came together to serve at Hoofbeats to Healing, an org...

Livermore-Pleasanton, Calif., Lodge No. 2117 Livermore-Pleasanton, Calif., Lodge No. 2117 used its Promise Grant to hold a free children’s carnival! At the carnival, kids played games like mini golf, fish bowl toss, and Hoop Shoot practice. Local police stopped by to talk about the dangers of drug and alcohol use and abuse,  and the fire department gave tours of their fire truck. Above, an Elks member a local clown puts the finishing touches on an attendee’s face paint. The ENF awards 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 and to download an application, visit www.elks.org/enf/community .

By Development Manager Kate Keating Edsey Texas hospitality is second to none, so I couldn’t have picked a better place for my first Hoop Shoot and Impact Grant project visit. Communications Specialist Kristen Scaletta and I headed down to the Big D last month by invitation of Jud Good, Southwest Regional Hoop Shoot Director. Kristen will tell you more about the Hoop Shoot contest next week, but let me just say how much I enjoyed the experience. It was amazing to meet the Elks who volunteer their time and talents to produce a spectacular weekend for the contestants and their families. I can’t wait to see how the winners from the Southwest Regional Contest do in Springfield—I have especially high hopes for my banquet tablemates from the 10 - 11 year-old group! During our time in Dallas, I was honored to see our Impact Grant dollars at work in Plano-Richardson Lodge 2485, guided by Exalter Ruler, Project Manager and Lodge ENF Chair Valree Thompson.  Valree was excited to sho...

Des Moines, Iowa, Lodge No. 98 Des Moines, Iowa, Lodge No. 98 used its Gratitude Grant to become an “Army of Hope.” The Lodge delivered food baskets to 32 families in need throughout the community, including seven families of deployed soldiers. 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. To find out more about Gratitude Grants, visit www.elks.org/enf/community .     

Coos Bay, Ore., Lodge No. 1160 Thanks to its ENF Impact Grant , the Coos Bay Lodge provides weekend snack packs to children at Blossom Gulch Elementary School. Check out this video coverage of the Lodge’s project! 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 .

By Director Jim O’Kelley How’s your bracket looking? Last year, I took Butler to the final game. But this is not last year, and I reminded myself of that fact as I filled out my bracket. I knocked Butler off in the second round, same as VCU. Kentucky and UConn? I wasn’t feeling them, either. I eliminated them in the Sweet 16 and regional final, respectively. So, for my bracket, the NCAA men’s basketball tournament is over. Fortunately, I still have a shot in the annual ENF employee per capita contest. We have our own version of March Madness at the ENF office. As the close of the fiscal year approaches, we all compete to see who can come closest to predicting the final mark for per-member giving. The winner gets bragging rights and a coveted spot in the exclusive club of former champions. The defending champion is Paula Lukos , one of our gift processors. She won last year with a guess of $6.300. The final per capita was a record $6.324. Here’s a look at this year’s guess...

By Kristen Scaletta, Communications Specialist   Each quarter, the Elks National Foundation publishes Heartbeat , a newsletter full of the latest ENF news and stories. We just wrapped up producing the spring 2011 edition, and wanted to see what happens between the time we hand off the files to the printer and when the newsletter arrives in your mailbox. Enter Envision Graphics . Our printer, John Schmudde agreed to take Development Manager Kate Keating Edsey and me on a tour of the plant that prints and mails Heartbeat . We drove for an hour in Chicago morning rush hour traffic until we reached the plant in Bloomingdale, Ill., but the long drive was worth it! When we arrived, we met Account Executive Dave Shanahan, who took us on a full tour. We started with the pre-press room, where the Heartbeat files are checked for errors and a printer proof, a preview of what the newsletter will look like when printed, is generated. Next, Dave whisked us through a series of cubicles (wh...