Once again, the ENF asked Convention attendees to shine a spotlight on service by donating new socks or a new or gently used children’s book to benefit people in the Kansas City area. Elks responded to the call in a big way. More than 40 boxes of books were filled and donated to Resurrection BookMobile, a service that provides books and literacy materials to students pre-K to grade six across the Kansas City area. Due to the organizational prowess of Virginia DeBoard from Blue Springs, Mo., Lodge No. 2509, more than 70 large laundry bags and boxes of socks were donated to individual veterans transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing, the Kansas City V.A., Fisher House, and roughly 10 Missouri Lodges for them to assist veterans in their own communities.
Participation in the Spotlight on Service Drive was the largest it has been since the inaugural year in 2019, with more than 930 individuals and 600 Lodges participating.
"I am continually blown away by the generosity of the Elks,” said Senior Programs Associate Meaghan Morris. “The Supply Drive was a complete success, and these contributions will make a significant impact on the Kansas City community, providing warmth and comfort to our veterans and fostering a love of reading among local families. The Elks’ dedication to service exemplifies the spirit of our organization, and we are deeply thankful for the support!”
To ensure that the impact of this drive continues long after the Convention, every Lodge that donated was entered into a drawing to win a bonus $2,000 Community Investments Program grant. In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the CIP, 20 bonus grants were given to Lodges. Click here to view the winners!
Members of the Scholar Advisory Board and Hoop Shoot Alumni Advisory Board (a.k.a. the BackBoard) continued the Foundation’s commitment to service by volunteering at the St. Michael’s Veterans Center Apartments, which provides affordable, permanent housing for unhoused veterans. They worked side by side with members of Kansas City, Mo., Lodge No. 26, which uses a Gratitude Grant and Freedom Grant to serve the St. Michael’s community.
“One of the most powerful moments from Convention was visiting the St. Michael’s Veterans Center Apartments,” says Destiny Kiner, a 2011 Elks Hoop Shoot National Finalist and member of the BackBoard. “Sharing lunch with veterans and hearing their stories reminded me why this work matters.”
For more than 10 years, 97% of veterans at St. Michael’s have maintained permanent housing, with 117 veterans currently living onsite. They are constructing another permanent housing structure, which will be home to 62 more veterans later this year.
"St. Michaels is a trailblazer in ending veteran homelessness, so it was amazing to see their innovative approaches firsthand,” says Program Relations Associate Libby Willkomm. “Our students look forward to bringing lessons they learned back to their own communities."
The difference we make is possible because of the generous support from our donors, which is why the ENF held two different thank-you events at Convention. ENF donors who gave more than $1,000 last fiscal year or who’ve planned a gift to the Foundation were invited to a special night at the Midland Theater, which offered good food, better company, and an evening full of magic—literally. A magician captivated the audience with a show of illusions and surprises.
The following morning, the ENF hosted the third annual Bagels with the Board reception. Open to members of the ENF’s monthly giving program, the Fidelity Club, the open-house event gave more than 800 donors the chance to grab a bite to eat while mingling with the SAB, BackBoard, and ENF Board of Trustees. During a short program, the Hoop Shoot’s Getty Powell Award winners received their trophies for being the top overall finalists, and the Foundation recognized Al Nagel, Alaska’s longtime ENF chair, who stepped down from the role. At the Convention’s Opening Ceremony, the ENF showcased the impact of its work. ENF Director Jim O’Kelley kicked off the program by describing how Past National President John F. Malley’s vision brought the ENF to where it is today.
“Passion. Purpose. Conviction,” said O’Kelley. “I’m standing here today because the ENF’s founder, John F. Malley, had those three traits in spades. … Setting aside money you need now so you can do more later, that’s a tough decision to make. Fortunately, we don’t have to wrestle with it. Malley did that for us. And thanks to his conviction and your generosity, we will spend nearly $44.5 million this year to power the Elks’ charity.”
O’Kelley then highlighted the growth of the Community Investments Program over its 20 years of existence and was joined by Assistant Director Debbie Doles to share some of the touching stories that have come from ENF-funded programs over the past year.
Chattanooga, Tenn., Lodge No. 91 uses an Impact Grant to repair the homes of local veterans in need. Cooper Thompson, a 13-year-old from Oklahoma, sank 25 out of 25 free throws in regulation at the Elks Hoop Shoot National Finals, then another five in a shoot-off, to earn the same title that his brother won in the virtual conclusion to the 2020 Finals. Wynne Reidel, a Legacy scholar from Ohio, worked closely with Cuyahoga Falls-Akron-Barberton, Ohio, Lodge No. 1923 to support the opening of a community center, which will provide personal hygiene items to members to local community members.
These stories are only the beginning of the differences Elks and the ENF have made over the past year, but at the Convention, the ENF also looked toward the future. They hosted three seminars—about unleashing gritty kids through the Hoop Shoot, soliciting ENF donations, and the best practices for CIP grant use—that equipped Elks to continue serving their communities.
Helping Elks build stronger communities is the mission of the ENF, and in Kansas City, they did exactly that—but the mission doesn’t stop there. No matter the time of year, no matter the place, Elks and the ENF will continue working tirelessly to build stronger communities.
Click here to watch all the videos we showed at the Convention Opening Ceremony!