Each week, the ENF recognizes CIPerstars who have gone above and beyond in their service to the Elks National Foundation. These CIPerstars are recognized for their outstanding contributions to the ENF and the Elks community.
Senior Programs Associate
Programs Associate
Programs Coordinator
4/8/2025 Walnut Creek, CA Lodge No: 1811
uses its Gratitude Grant in collaboration with Little League to put together the Walnut Creek Challenger Jamboree, a baseball tournament for children with special needs. The Lodge has directed the Jamboree for the last dozen years, and the program has grown to support up to 25 teams, including upwards of 250 children and their families. When the children are not competing on the diamond, they play carnival games and enjoy the food court with their teammates and families. Over the years, the Lodge has built the tournament up to include professional umpires, partnerships with local sports teams, and stands packed with cheering fans. Lodge members handle all logistics for the event, which draws close to 1,000 people annually.
4/8/2025 Kaukauna, WI Lodge No: 962
has used its Beacon Grant to provide monthly support to Fishes & Loaves, a local food pantry since 2013. The Lodge remains flexible to the changing needs of the pantry and always communicates to ensure that the largest needs are filled. The Lodge also uses its grant to provide school supplies for students in partnership with the local library. Getting ready for the new school year can be a challenge for families who are facing financial insecurity, which is where the Lodge and the library come in with a helping hand.
4/8/2025 Poplar Bluff, MO Lodge No: 2452
uses its Beacon Grant for its "Stepping into Literacy" initiative for children in foster care. Many foster families face financial struggles, making the assistance provided, including new shoes and books, crucial for meeting the children's needs. At the event, Lodge members prepare a meal for the families and help the children pick out their shoes and books.
The Elks National Foundation allocated nearly $16 million this year to fund the Community Investments Program. Lodges meet local needs through grants that offer Elks opportunities to serve their community in ways that will raise the Lodge's profile, energize the membership, encourage former members to return to the fold, and gain the notice of people who want to be part of an organization that's doing great things. To learn more about the Community Investments Program, please visit elks.org/CIP. If you would like to speak to someone in the CIP office, we can be reached at 773-755-4730.