Elks National Foundation Blog

By 2013 Most Valuable Student scholar and Elks Scholar Advisory Board member Nate Baker  Nate Baker, 2013 MVS scholar sponsored by Tyrone, Pa., Lodge No. 212, is the freshman representative on the Elks Scholar Advisory Board and new to college life. Throughout his first year of college, we followed Nate's adventures during his first year at Cornell through monthly blog posts . Freshman year of college taught me a lot of lessons. We’re going to set those lessons about international relations, statistics, Spanish and history aside for now and focus on “less-conventional” ones learned through experience and trial-and-error. It’s not that Just War Theory, multiple regression, and the Jacobite Rebellion aren't important—they have their place, but summer’s here. Here are a few things that no guidebook or college tour will tell you about your first year at school. It’s always freezing and there's no sun. Take Vitamin D. This one is vital. The first cold days of the fa...

Galesburg, Ill., Lodge No. 894 Using an Elks National Foundation Promise Grant , Galesburg, Ill., Lodge No. 894 helped children in need find a new pair of shoes. Elks partnered with the local school district and its teachers to determine which students would most benefit from new shoes. Each selected child paired with an Elks volunteer, received two new pairs of socks and was fitted to make sure their new shoes were the right size. “Our project successfully helped 350 needy children in our community receive a new pair of shoes,” says Community Investments Program Project Manager Alphonse Urena. Elks are committed to America’s future. To build the character and competence of local youth, the Elks National Foundation awards $2,000 Promise Grants to the first 500 Lodges that pledge to host an eligible youth event. To find out more about Promise Grants and the Community Investments Program, visit www.elks.org/enf/community .

Telluride, Colo., Lodge No. 692 After a long winter, we’re looking forward to summer activities like gardening, swimming and biking. But kids from Telluride, Colorado have a different activity on their minds—sledding! Using an Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant , Telluride, Colo., Lodge No. 692 partnered with the local organization One To One to hold a cardboard sled derby. One To One helps keep at-risk youth on the right path by pairing them with adult mentors. Each year, they hold the cardboard sled derby to teach kids about creativity, critical thinking and good sportsmanship. This year, the Elks were there to share their support. After cheering on the contestants, Elks prepared and served a barbeque lunch to the sledders and their families. “Thanks to the Gratitude Grant, we were able to continue forging a relationship with One To One,” says Community Investments Program Project Manager Cynthia Wyszynski. “We’re also working on cultivating new members because of ...

Manitowoc, Wis., Lodge No. 687 Elks shopped 'til they dropped for eight families living in Manitowoc, Wisconsin! Using an Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant , Manitowoc, Wis., Lodge No. 687 partnered with the Salvation Army to purchase and distribute supplies to local families in need. Elks provided clothes, toys, tools, kitchen utensils and toiletries for 13 adults and 26 children. “We served families that otherwise would not have had these items,” says Community Investments Program Project Manager Anne Brogan. “It’s our third year of partnering with the Salvation Army and—thanks to the Gratitude Grant—we have increased our giving from three to eight families.” Manitowoc was able to apply for the Gratitude Grant after meeting the National President’s per-member-giving goal in 2013-14. Did your Lodge meet the per-capita goal? Then you are eligible to apply for a CIP Gratitude Grant! Don’t miss the opportunity to serve your community with this $2,000 grant. Grati...

By 2013 Most Valuable Student scholar and Elks Scholar Advisory Board member Nate Baker  Nate Baker, 2013 MVS scholar sponsored by Tyrone, Pa., Lodge No. 212, is the freshman representative on the Elks Scholar Advisory Board and new to college life. Throughout his first year of college, we’ll be following Nate through monthly blog posts . Check back each month to see what new adventures Nate encounters during this first year at Cornell! About halfway through January, I was confronted with a decision that would shape my next three and a half years in college. This decision answered a few key questions about my future:  Who was I going to live with?  Where would I live? Who are my best friends going to be? And, most importantly, which fraternity am I going to join? The period referred to as “rush week” was over—my body ached from skiing, paintballing, and walking. Dinners, activities, parties, and about five too many “speed dating” events had decimated my stamina ...

Lake of the Ozarks, Mo., Lodge No. 2517 Not even the polar vortex this winter could stop the Elks from helping community members in need! Using an Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant , Lake of the Ozarks, Mo., Lodge No. 2517 purchased and distributed coats, hats, shoes, gloves and jeans for local youth in need. Elks partnered with the Osage Upper Elementary School to determine which students would benefit most from new cold-weather gear. Thanks to the Beacon Grant, the Lake of the Ozarks Elks provided winter supplies for 44 students—and found 44 new friends! “Thank you for your kindness,” says Osage Upper Elementary School Counselor Beverly Kincade. “We are blessed to live in such a caring community. Your generosity has made a difference in the lives of children.” Don’t miss the opportunity to serve your community with $2,000! Beacon Grants, available to every Lodge, help Lodges like Lake of the Ozarks hold ongoing, Elks-led charitable projects. Don’t wait! Applicati...

Marcee Northey Donor Services Manager How long have you worked at the ENF? I have worked at the ENF for just over seven years. What projects are you/your department working on right now? The Donor Services department is gearing up for the end of our fiscal year, which is just around the corner. What’s your favorite part of working at the ENF? My favorite part of my work with the ENF by far is speaking with Elks across the country. I love solving problems and speaking with them about what great things they are doing in their communities. I also really enjoy working with the Donor Services team . We work really hard but also enjoy our jobs.   Describe your average day at the ENF. We say in the DS department that there is no average day, but we do have average weeks. As I mentioned earlier, communicating with Elks is part of that but also processing donations , updating records and reports, responding to requests, assisting the team with questions, and meeting wit...

Fountain Hills, Ariz., Lodge No. 2846   Veterans in need living in Fountain Hills, Ariz. know they can count on the Elks for support. Using an Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant , Fountain Hills, Ariz., Lodge No. 2846 partnered with local VA hospitals to purchase and deliver household items, books, magazines and movies to veteran residents. To let active military members know they have the support of the Elks at home and overseas, the Fountain Hills Elks also prepared gifts for those serving in Afghanistan. Thanks to the Gratitude Grant, the Lodge gained seven new members and showed the community that the Elks are there for veterans in need. “This project furthered our image as a force for positive change in the community,” says Community Investments Program Project Manager Max Love. “We are seen as an organization that can be counted on to support veterans and our military.” Don’t miss the opportunity to serve your community with $2,000! Gratitude Grants, whic...

Lake Sammamish, Wash., Lodge No. 1843 From Sochi to Washington, the world is focused on winter sports and Elks from Lake Sammamish, Wash., Lodge No. 1843 are going for the gold! Using an Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant , the Lodge partnered with the Cascade Snow Drifters Snowmobile Club to take local Wounded Warrior veterans on a snowmobiling trip through the mountains. To warm up after the trip, Elks invited the vets to the Lodge for an evening of food and fellowship. Thanks to the Beacon Grant, the community is rooting for Team Elks! “Our partnership with the Cascade Drifters has grown thanks to the Beacon Grant,” says Community Investments Program Project Manager Erica Sargeant. “Our Lodge plans to continue this project on a yearly basis.” Don’t miss the opportunity to serve your community with $2,000! Beacon Grants, available to every Lodge, help Lodges like Lake Sammamish hold ongoing, Elks-led charitable projects. Don’t wait! Applications for 2013-14 Beacon Grants ...

By Most Valuable Student Scholar Matthew Ramos My name is Matthew J. Ramos and I am a 2013 ENF Most Valuable Student recipient. While home for the holidays I assisted my sponsoring Elks Lodge—Carmichael, Calif., Lodge No. 2103—with its annual holiday basket event. On the morning of December 22, I arrived at the Lodge at 8 a.m. eager and willing to help put together boxes of food that would distributed to families within our community. I meet with Mr. Murray, the Project Coordinator, and he introduced me to several of the other Elks and gave me an overview of the process. It was like a fine-tuned machine. There were rows of boxes on tables, and stacks of flour, sugar, canned goods and fresh produce all around the sides of the room. We had carts to carry the items to the boxes and each box was labeled with the number of adults and children in the family. We got busy and filled more than 125 boxes in less than two hours. When the individuals and families arrived, they were signed...