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Northwest District
Pensacola Beach Elks Casserole Brunch Fundraiser Supports Florida Elks Autism Programs
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On Feb. 23, Pensacola Beach Elks Lodge #497 held a casserole brunch fundraiser for Florida State Elks Association autism programs. Shelli Branch, lodge autism committee chair, solicited members and friends to donate a breakfast casserole. The event raised $827.
Pictured are lodge members Tina Gramenz, Alissa Gramenz, Beckey Berms, Shelli Branch, Jackie Bayne, Vickey Buttino, Amy Miller, Karen Kriegel, JoDee Cattrell and Ellen Hunt.
Fort Walton Elks Host Chili Cook-off to Fundraise for Florida Elks Charities
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On Feb. 15, Fort Walton Elks Lodge #1795 held its annual chili cook-off fundraiser for the Harry-Anna Trust Fund, which supports Florida Elks charities, and raised $710.
Pictured in the back is Robert Griffin. In the front are Jamie Clemons, Secretary; Terri Griffin, PER, Loyal Knight; Cindy Foster Carter; Tom McLaughlin, PER, Esquire; and Mark Wynn, Lecturing Knight.
Pensacola Beach Elks Adopt Two Families for the Holidays
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On December 23 Pensacola Beach Lodge adopted two families from the Santa Rosa County School District for the holidays. The lodge used its Elks National Veterans Service Commission Freedom Grant and provided $500 to each family. Each family gift included Christmas dinner (to be assembled) and gifts for the children.
Pictured Dec. 23 are Wayne Levchik, PER; Ken Branch, District Vice President; and Jim Rodriguez, PER.
Fort Walton Elks Lodge Gives Back to Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On Dec. 20, Fort Walton Lodge donated $1,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast. The lodge has used the wonderful gymnasium at the local club for several years for the lodge Hoop Shoot. The donation will support the vast array of kids’ before-school and after-school programs that are operated daily.
Pictured are Taz WrightReynolds, PER, Hoop Shoot Chair; directors Chris Wade, Marcus Broadnax, Zakina Judd, and Nina Guilford; and Marcia WrightReynolds, Leading Knight.
Fort Walton Elks Support Choctawhatchee High School JV Soccer Team
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On Dec. 19, Fort Walton Elks Lodge #1795 donated $500 to the Choctawhatchee High School junior varsity soccer team. The funds will be used to buy equipment and for day-to-day operations.
Pictured with the team are Travis Rovillo, JV coach, and Tom McLaughlin, PER, Lodge and District Soccer Shoot Chair.
Pensacola Beach Elks Host Blood Drive
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On Nov. 17, Pensacola Beach Elks Lodge #497 held a blood drive, coordinated by member Celeste Whisenant. The Big Red Bus, with all the members who supported it, collected 30 pints of blood that day.
Pictured are lodge and Ladies member Tina Riske; KB Branch, District Vice President; and lodge and Ladies member Celeste Whisenant.
Twin Cities Elks Donate $6,000 Grant to One Hopeful Place
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
Twin Cities Elks Lodge #2747 donated its $6,000 Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant Oct. 15 to One Hopeful Place, an organization that helps those experiencing homelessness in Okaloosa County. OHP offers programs and services for those seeking self-sufficiency and operates affordable housing for unaccompanied men and women. The grant will be used to purchase needed supplies for the organization.
Pictured are Robin Donlin, OHP staff; Tom Casey, lodge trustee; Kathy Casey, Americanism Chair; Liz Qualiana, OHP staff; Rick Woelfl, PDVP-NW, ENF Fundraising Chair; Donna Morgan, OHP staff; and Bonnie Barlow, OHP staff.
Pensacola Beach Ladies of Elks Support Favor House of NWFL
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On Aug. 15, the Pensacola Beach Elks Lodge #497 Ladies of Elks donated $500 to the Favor House of NWFL Inc., which assists survivors of domestic violence. One in three women and one in four men have been in abusive relationships. Pictured are Kathy Hough, economic empowerment advocate; Harriet Gossett, Ladies Treasurer; and Hannah Hancock, co-located advocate.
Fort Walton Elks Support Second Annual Dragon Boat Races for Bring Hope Now
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
Fort Walton Lodge donated $1,000 to Bring Hope Now in support of the second annual Dragon Boat Races, which will be held Sept. 7 at The Gulf on Okaloosa Island. Bring Hope Now's mission is to save lives and support the families affected by suicide in the community. They are providing the community with a national peer-to-peer suicide prevention program designed for schools. They have created the Hope Squad, which is available to every school in the Okaloosa County School District, and are working with every secondary school in Santa Rosa County. They have raised enough funds for all schools in Escambia, Bay, Walton and Leon Counties to cover the entire northwest region.
Pictured are members Pam Lee, Kathy Houchins, Tony Cronley, and Sheri Cronley; Peggy Brockman, Executive Director; and Rob Parks, Exalted Ruler.
Fort Walton Elks Lodge Hosts Flag Day and Father's Day Celebration
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On June 15, Fort Walton Elks Lodge #1795 had an open house permit and hosted 250 people (60% members and 40% members of the public) for its annual Flag Day ceremony and Father’s Day celebration. All lodge officers were present. The occasion included a shrimp and crawfish boil.
Pictured are Joe Reames, trustee; Tom McLaughlin, PER; Renea Black, Inner Guard; Terri Griffin, PER, Loyal Knight; Rob Parks, Exalted Ruler; Marcia WrightReynolds, Loyal Knight; Dusty Austin, member; Susan Henry, Chaplain; and Heath Hamilton, Tiler.
Pensacola Beach Elks Support Gulf Breeze High School AFJROTC
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On April 18, Pensacola Beach Elks Lodge #497 donated $5,000 to the Gulf Breeze High School AFJROTC to help with costs associated with uniforms and competition travel. The group has served the lodge for Flag Day and the annual beach Veterans Day parade for many years. JROTC teaches leadership, character development, physical fitness and aerospace science.
Pictured are Elk Greg Eddins; cadets RJ Maiga, Jonah Studdard, Natalie Gall, and Zara Tavai; and Jim Rodriguez, PER, Exalted Ruler.
Twin Cities Elks Lodge Presents Scholarship to AFJROTC Cadet
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
During the Niceville High School AFJROTC awards ceremony April 17, PER Don Dowdy of , Twin Cities Elks Lodge #2747 presented Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Jackson with the Florida State Elks Association Northwest District $3,000 AFJROTC scholarship.