On March 9, Hollywood West Elks Lodge #2365 presented donation checks to charitable community organizations using its Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant, totaling $3,000. The following organizations were the appreciative recipients: Hollywood Police Athletic League ($500), Hope Outreach Center of Davie ($500), Davie Police Athletic League ($500), Broward Children's Center ($250), Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood ($250), South Florida Boy Scouts of America ($500) and the LCpl Janos V Lutz Live To Tell Foundation ($500).
Pictured are Jim Blanchard, DDGER; Ed Scanlon, Exalted Ruler; Edith Moore, Broward Children’s Center Preschool Director; and Barbara Blanchard, lodge trustee.
Delray Beach Elks Lodge #1770 held its local Hoop Shoot for local children Nov. 13 at Trinity Lutheran Church gymnasium, and the winners advanced to the district contest Dec. 4. Pictured with participants and parents are members Karl Aterman; John Jaspert; Les Nelson; Ian Patterson; Mike Sinneck, District Vice President; a father; Roger Cope, Exalted Ruler; and Billy La Fever, who is also a teacher.
On Aug. 21, Pompano Beach Elks Lodge #1898 opened its new lodge doors to the teachers of Cresthaven Elementary School. This is the third year the lodge has provided needed supplies for the new school year. The lodge purchased the supplies using its $3,500 Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant. The school’s principal and assistant principal were present with teachers to pick up their supplies. The Drug Awareness Education trailer was onsite for information distribution, and Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services occupational therapist Lynanne Koenig was there to provide information about the therapy program.
Using its Elks National Foundation $3,500 Beacon Grant and $2,000 Spotlight Grant, Boca Raton Lodge bought much needed supplies for three local Title I schools. Cases of copy paper, notebooks, pens, pencils and more were delivered Sept. 17.
Pictured in the front at the Orchard View Elementary School delivery are Shirley Board, Loyal Knight; Dawn Sarnelli, assistant principal; Tony Young, teacher; Danielle Garcia, principal; Catherine MacDonald, lodge member; and Ian MacDonald, trustee. Pictured in the back are trustees John De Cicco and Tito Young and Vincent Como, PSP, Exalted Ruler.
On Sept. 11, Boca Raton Elks Lodge #2166 held a meet-and-greet and barbecue for friends and neighbors. Boy Scout Troop No. 336 from Boca Raton performed a flag retirement ceremony prior to the festivities. The lodge welcomed four new members from the event.
Pictured in the front row are Phyllis de Angelis, Joan D’Amato, Joseph D’Amato and Loretta Battiloro, new members, and David Jones, Tiler. In the back are John De Cicco, trustee; Jeanne De Cicco, Lecturing Knight; Jeff Grady, Leading Knight; Shirley Board, Loyal Knight; Vincent Como, PSP, Exalted Ruler; Pat Maher, PDD, chaplain; Ira Braunschweig, trustee; and Linda Barie, PDD, Esquire.
Also pictured are scouts retiring flags.
On June 13, Oakland Park Elks Lodge #2407 and Pompano Beach Elks Lodge #1898 conducted a Flag Day ceremony together. Scout Troop 497 and Pack 179, sponsored by Oakland Park Lodge, and Troop 512, sponsored by Pompano Beach Lodge, presented the flags. The scouts ranged in age from 10 to 18 years old. Exalted Rulers Bud Legere and Doug Satran are pictured with the scouts.
Hollywood West Elks Lodge #2365 was the winning lodge in selling the most stars for autism awareness — more than 200 at $5 each. District Deputy Donna Powers challenged the lodges in the South Southeast District to sell the most. The lodge received an award from Powers at the District Deputy clinic in April.
The lodge also held a Flag Day ceremony June 13 with local scouts presenting the flags, and members respectfully retired flags.
Boca Raton Elks Lodge #2166 held a Flag Day ceremony June 12. Boca Raton Scout Troop 336 presented the flags for the ceremony, and Exalted Ruler Vincent Como presided. After the ceremony, 20 members and the scouts and their parents stayed for a dinner. Pictured are the scouts presenting the flags, Como and Pat Maher, PDD, chaplain.
On April 9, Delray Beach Elks Lodge #1770 awarded 2020 awards to Delray’s first responders of the year. Ten Elks officers and committee chairs gathered at the Delray Fire Department’s open-air garage for a more COVID-safe ceremony. Pictured are members John Van Zant, Kim Van Sant, and Mary Wilson; Driver Engineer Eric Varano, Delray Beach Firefighter of the Year (presented by Division Chief Sean Gibson); member Kristina Lebrevelec; Captain Matthew Fick, Delray Beach Firefighter of the Year (presented by Division Chief Sean Gibson); member James Eaton; Lifeguard Julia Sheffer, Delray Beach Ocean Rescue of the Year (presented by Division Chief Phil Wotton); Officer Damien Ferraiolo, Police Officer of the Year (presented by Delray Police Chief Javaro Sims); member Carol Eaton; Exalted Ruler, Roger Cope; member Nancy Handler; and commissioner and member, Ryan Boylston.
On Feb. 11 using the Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant, Hollywood West Elks Lodge #2365 presented $2,000 in Publix gift cards to the Hope Outreach Center to assist those in need. Pictured in the front are John Allison, Exalted Ruler, and Joanne Robinson, Hope Outreach Director. In the back are Jim Blanchard, District Vice President; Peggy Felthaus, Treasurer; JoAnn Caliendo, Secretary; Gerry Goodwin, Lecturing Knight; and Ed Scanlon, House Committee Chair.
Boca Raton Elks Lodge #2166 was used as a polling place for the elections this year, and many members were trained to be poll workers. To thank the Elks for the use of the hall, the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections donated $1,980.00 to the lodge. Pictured are Tito Young, Exalted Ruler; Vic Weliky, member; Catherine MacDonald, member; Shirley Board, Loyal Knight; Judy Lamey, media relations specialist for the Palm Beach County Elections Office; and John DeCicco, trustee.
Delray Beach Elks Lodge #1770, using a donation of $500, donated 18,000 books to elementary schools in Delray Beach, Boca Raton, and Boynton Beach, Florida. On Dec. 5, the lodge donated $1,000 to the Palm Beach County Food Bank’s Empty Bowls fundraiser. On Dec. 14, the lodge donated $2,000 for the city of Delray’s holiday toy drive and to Heroes and Helpers. These projects fund Christmas presents for children and families in Delray Beach. On Dec. 15, the lodge sponsored ADVA’s (Aid to Victims of Domestic Violence) 21st annual Race for Hope with a donation of $500. The race took place Jan. 21.