South Southwest District

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Written by Teresa Colburn-Bird

Punta Gorda Elks Lodge #2606 hosted another blood drive with One Blood July 14, organized by Ambrose Yelovich, PER, blood drive chair. This event had 22 donors, all lodge members. One pint saves three lives, so this day equated to 66 lives saved.

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Written by Cathy Redman

Rotonda Elks Lodge #2710 paid for 19 children to attend the Florida Elks Youth Camp in Umatilla, Florida. Each camper’s fee was $220, and the lodge also paid for a T-shirt for each camper as well as a charter bus to transport them there. A grateful parent and volunteer nurse, Rebecca White, administered flu tests for the campers. Other helpful Elks were Kathy Dardis, Tami Watson and Geraldine Chesney.

Pictured July 17 before departing the lodge for the camp are the campers and lodge members who were chaperones on the bus — Nina Bentley; Cathy Redman, camp chairperson; Lee Hall; and Paul Bernhardt. Also pictured are parents saying goodbye to their children before they leave for camp.

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Written by Cape Coral Elks

On May 23, Cape Coral Elks Lodge #2596 donated $6,000 from its Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to The Caring Center of Cape Coral. The grant will assist residents with paying their utility bills.

Pictured are Wanda Byrnes, Lecturing Knight; Bonnie Marshall, PER, Exalted Ruler; Wendy Wootton, program operations manager; Janet Murphy, Chaplain; and Mike Murphy, Leading Knight.

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Written by Naples Elks

On March 31, Naples Elk Lodge #2010 applied for and received a charter for The Antlers, giving students ages 13 to 20 the opportunity to serve the lodge and their community. Mike Adamski, PER is advisor to the Antlers. On April 27, $1,000 scholarships were given to Antlers William Perry, Isabella Luccarelli and Trey Harry. Antlers officers are William Perry, president; Isabella LuccarelIi, first vice president; Christopher Savoie, second vice president; Trey Harry, third vice president; Hannah Perry, secretary; and Nico Luccarelli, treasurer.

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Written by Teresa Bird

In May, the Punta Gorda Elks and Elkettes presented a total of 23 scholarships totaling $26,000 to students from two local high schools. The lodge presented 15 $1,000 scholarships, the Past Exalted Rulers Association presented two $1,000 scholarships, and the Elkettes presented six $1,500 scholarships. On May 14, the lodge held a luncheon to honor their Top Student of the Year, Lucia Rivadeneira, who received a scholarship from the Elkettes. The lodge had three scholarship winners from the Elks National Foundation as well. Shea Cencula and Summer Peterson each won a Legacy Scholarship which will give them $1,000 per year for four years. Erik Courtney won a Most Valuable Student Scholarship which will also give him $1,000 a year for four years.

Erik Courtney is pictured receiving his $4,000 Legacy Scholarship from Bud Bell, Elks National Foundation Scholarship Lodge Chair, Bud Bell, and Tom Shoecraft, Exalted Ruler. Lucia Rivadeneria is pictured receiving her $1,500 scholarship from Judy Schall, representing the Elkettes.