Elks National Foundation Blog

Mountain Home, Ark., Lodge No. 1714 Mountain Home, Ark., Lodge No. 1714 used its Gratitude Grant to help kids in need. Elks contacted teachers, counselors and nurses at local schools to see what students lacked. They then shopped for everything from school supplies to clothes and shoes, so the schools could distribute the materials to any child who could use them. 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 Communications Specialist Kristen Scaletta It’s summertime at the Elks National Foundation, which can only mean one thing. Convention is coming! Each year, the Elks hold a national convention where members from across the country gather and attend seminars and meetings, check out one another’s booths, and connect with other members. The Elks National Foundation participates by holding different seminars to share our work and by maintaining a booth in the Convention Center, where visitors can come to learn more about our programs. Check out our website for a list of our Convention events. This year, the Elks National Convention will be in Phoenix, Ariz., from July 17 to 21. You may think that’s a while from now, but under the guidance of Development Manager Kate Keating Edsey , we’ve been planning for this year’s Convention since last fall. Each year before Convention, a truck leaves from the Elks headquarters, where our offices are housed, carrying all the items we’ll need ...

Sand Springs, Okla., Lodge No. 2553  Sand Springs, Okla., Lodge No. 2553 used its Gratitude Grant to help a local therapeutic riding center. Here, Matthew, a child with disabilities, is learning to ride thanks to the Lodge’s donation. Elks keep in touch with the center, which reports that Matthew’s horsemanship and confidence have improved greatly since he began a few months ago. 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, 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 .

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 .

Midwest City, Okla., Lodge No. 1890 Midwest City, Okla., Lodge No. 1890 teamed up with the city and a local golf course and used its Promise Grant to host the first annual “Youth Golf Skills Challenge.” Boys and Girls aged 8 to 14 took on the Lodge’s challenge and put their golf skills to the test. After the competition, all participants and their families were treated to awards banquet. The Lodge was recognized by the city for the successful event, and the mayor already offered his support for next year!  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 these $2,000 grants, visit www.elks.org/enf/community .

By Development Manager Kate Keating Edsey  ENF Chair Carolyn Shupe hands out cookies at Santa Barbara, Calif., Lodge No. 613’s Bring a Veteran to Lunch event. A day in the life of an ENF Chair. That was my original topic when I sat down to blog about our ENF volunteers. However, I quickly realized that there is no typical day for an ENF Chair. As ENF representatives in their Lodge, district and or state, ENF Chairs wear many hats—they are at times promoters, cheerleaders, writers, bookkeepers, event planners or collection agents. No matter what hat they are wearing at any given time, ENF Chairs keep the ENF mission front and center. The work they do, raising funds for the ENF and spreading the word about the good works of the Foundation, helps Elks build stronger communities. That’s a pretty great job to have. Except we all know that this is not a job to ENF Chairs. As volunteers, ENF Chairs dedicate their time, talent and treasure without compensation. They do what they d...

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 .   

Little River, S.C., Lodge No. 2840 Little River, S.C., Lodge No. 2840 throws some big parties. The Lodge used its Promise Grant to make sure local children in need could celebrate holidays all year round. The Elks started with a Halloween party, and continued with two Christmas celebrations, a Valentine’s Day dance, and an Easter party. Above, the race is on as the children begin the Easter egg hunt. 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 Programs Relationship Associate Anne Shields Practicing at the Basketball Hall of Fame. I attended my first National Hoop Shoot Finals on Saturday, April 30, and what a contest it was! I had heard for weeks how dedicated the contestants were and how much they practiced, but all the talk didn’t prepare me for what I saw on Saturday. Kids ages 8 to 13 were sinking free throws better than NBA players. It was my job to enter scores online for the up-to-the-minute shot tracker . I found myself mesmerized by the consecutive sunk shots, so much so that it was a challenge to stay focused on my job. (Don’t worry though, I entered all the correct scores for those of you who followed along at home on Saturday). Henry Westphal shows off his first place trophy! After watching all 72 contestants step to the line, it was time for a shoot-off between Henry Westphal from Portland, Maine, Lodge No. 188 and Jerrick Rydbom from Blairsville, Pa., Lodge No. 406. The two were competing for the ...