BPO Elks of the USA

he Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is one of the oldest and largest private organizations in the United States, formally meeting since February 16, 1868. Fifteen actors and entertainers attended that first meeting in New York City. The organization has since grown to nearly 1.3 million men and women in 2,200 local “Lodges” throughout the country, embracing all occupations and professions.

The organization’s philanthropic bent grew out of the founders’ desire to assist members in need and young actors who were out of work. In 1871, the Elks staged a benefit for the Chicago Fire, and the organization has responded to every major disaster since then, from the Seattle fire and Johnstown flood in 1889, to the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995 and the Red River flooding of 1997. This in addition to the community service that has become an Elks tradition.

The Order is best noted for its work with youths. The Elks annually award scholarships at the local, state and national levels and sponsor activities such as the Elks “Hoop Shoot,” Drug Awareness programs, Scouting, Little League, summer camps and in-home treatment for children with disabilities.

Of the many additional prides in Elkdom, two stand tall. The first is the patriotism displayed by the Order. In 1907, the Elks became the first fraternal organization to observe flag day on June 14. More than 40 years later, President Harry S. Truman, a member of the Order, declared the date a national observance.

The second is the promise made in World War I that disabled American veterans would never be forgotten. The Order of Elks supplied and equipped the first two field hospitals in France. For returning wounded, the Elks constructed a hospital in Boston and then donated it to the War Department. This was the only veterans hospital donated by a private entity after World War I.

The Order’s history of patriotism and service has set the tone for the modern Lodge. Last year, the Elks and their families contributed more than 5.5 million volunteer-hours and $133 million in philanthropic service. As they have for more than 129 years, the Elks continue to make a difference in their communities, their states and their country.