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Written by Erika Barger, PDD

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Ormond Beach Elks Lodge #2193 held its annual scholarship banquet May 3, honoring high school seniors from four schools and their families with a certificate of recognition and dinner. The lodge awarded a total of $38,500, which included $3,000 in lodge scholarships, $31,500 on behalf of the Florida State Elks Association, and $4,000 on behalf of the Elks National Foundation. Banquet guests included student recipients; parents, grandparents and family members; principals and administrators; Paul Leonard, East Central District ENF Scholarship Chair; and Harold Briley, Vice Mayor of Ormond Beach.

Receiving $1,000 scholarships from the lodge were Tiden Burch and Kaiden Kolis, of Spruce Creek High School, and Xaria McCoy, of Mainland High School. Tiden Burch was also awarded an additional $4,000 Most Valuable Student scholarship from the Elks National Foundation.

Ormond Beach Lodge presented six C. Valentine Bates Memorial HOPE Scholarships on behalf of the Florida State Elks Association. Wyatt Kent and Luke Womack, of Seabreeze High School, and Xaria McCoy each received $7,500. Cole Brown and Kylee Robertson, of Seabreeze High School, and Kaila Bellamy, of Atlantic High School, received $3,000 each. Local students garnered 30% of the Florida State Elks Association’s 21 HOPE scholarships statewide. The HOPE Scholarship is awarded to seniors with an unweighted GPA between 2.3 and 3.59 who have demonstrated leadership in school activities, community service, and citizenship and who have born additional responsibility throughout their high school careers to provide support to siblings or family.

Scholarship recipients pictured with a cake are Xaria McCoy, Wyatt Kent, Tiden Burch, Luke Womack, Kaiden Kolis, Cole Brown and Kaila Bellamy.

Also pictured are Dean Yeager, PDD, East Central District HOPE Scholarship Chair; Joe Pepe, HOPE Scholarship State Chair; Erika Barger, PDD, Lodge Scholarship Chair; HOPE Scholarship recipients, Kaila Bellamy, Xaria McCoy, Cole Brown, Luke Womack, and Wyatt Kent; Joseph Brozyna, Exalted Ruler; and Carl Seibert, PDD, FSEA COO/State Secretary.

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Written by Jupiter Elks

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On March 5, Jupiter Elks Lodge #2469 awarded four high school seniors each a $1,000 scholarship. The funds were raised from the Tuesday night charity bingo.

Pictured in the front are Nathan Vertes, Lea Abito, Hannah Espersen and Helina Hoim, scholarship recipients, along with Jill McDaniel and Amanda Murphy, Scholarship Committee members.

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Written by Bobbie Vance

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Members and officers of Cocoa Beach Elks Lodge #2387 attended the Cocoa Beach High School senior awards presentation May 10 to award 19 $1,000 scholarships. Of these, 16 were academic scholarships presented by Robert Janes, Exalted Ruler, right, and trustee Dean Rosenquist (not pictured). These were funded by donations, proceeds from game nights, and other events such as gift raffles and commercial bingo games at the Super Bowl party, Kentucky Derby, and Cinco de Mayo parties. The lodge also kicked off a grassroots effort this school year for students who have other interests and to provide a career path or an alternative to college. Member Gene Phillips, left, and Robert Janes, Exalted Ruler, right, presented three vocational and technical trades scholarships, which were funded by lodge members. This new scholarship program was welcomed by Cocoa Beach High School and the Career and Technical Education (CTE) department of the Brevard County Public Schools.

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Written by Susan Kikta

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In January 2024, Tarpon Springs Elks Lodge #1719 partnered with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an organization dedicated to building, assembling and delivering twin beds and bunk beds to children in need. The local chapter’s co-president is a Tarpon Springs resident and is very excited to work with the lodge. SHP has provided more than 2,900 beds in their five-year history, but they continue to receive an average of 130 bed requests per month.

Pictured Jan. 20 are the more than 30 lodge volunteers who built 50 beds using $5,000 from the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant. Also pictured are Jim Baker, SHP director; Steven Kikta, Exalted Ruler; Ann Baker, SHP director; and Mary Kurchinski, Elks National Foundation Lodge Grants Coordinator.

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Written by Carol Lee Spages

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On May 4, in honor of International Firefighters Day, New Port Richey Elks Lodge #2284 presented a large tray of cookies and a thank you poster to the members of New Port Richey Fire Company 1 and 2.

Pictured from Company 1 are Captain Tom Christian; Elizabeth Groves, Inner Guard/Americanism Chair; and firefighters Tiffany Williams and Javier Espinales.

Pictured from Company 2 are Captain Eric Slafky, Elizabeth Groves and firefighter Corbin Mitchell.

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Written by Tracy Carroll, PER

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On March 8, Green Cove Springs Lodge invited officers from the Green Cove Springs Police Department and the Clay County Sheriff's Office for dinner and a donation of 170 stuffed animals. These were donated by members and guests throughout February in the lodge's annual Comfort Campaign, which provides new stuffed animals for law enforcement officers to hand out to children on their calls in the community.

Pictured are Tracy Carroll, PER; Greg Hughson, PDD; GCSPD Officer Sarah Holien; GCSPD Public Information Officer Josh Lee; CCSO Chief Scott Moreland; GCSPD Sargeant Austin Graham; Lynn Elrod, Exalted Ruler; GCSPD Chief John Guzman; GCSPD Sargeant Chris Hess; and CCSO Lieutenant Mike Layne.

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Written by Jessica Bouchard

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On March 13, Bradenton Elks Lodge bingo players donated $500 to Hooves with H.E.A.R.T.

Pictured are Danny Tabor, PSP; Valentino; and Danielle of Hooves with H.E.A.R.T.

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Written by South Miami/Coral Gables Elks

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This year, South Miami/Coral Gables Elks Lodge #1676 is teaming with the University of Miami Center for Autism & Related Disabilities (CARD) program. With a $10,000 Elks National Foundation Impact Grant, the lodge will host four quarterly events for CARD clients on the autism spectrum, along with their families and caregivers. They also have nine one-day talent development events planned. The lodge will work with the CARD staff to offer resume training seminars, a job fair, bingo, a concert and a Christmas party. Beginning in April, and on every third Saturday thereafter, the lodge will also host TOTS — Talent of the Spectrum, an open mic talent show where members on the spectrum can showcase their talents to family, friends and Elk members. The first quarterly event, a family barbecue, was hosted Feb. 25 by 25 Elks, using $1,500 from the grant. Members cooked up hundreds of hamburgers and hot dogs to feed the more than 100 in attendance. After lunch, folks enjoyed a magic show by members and professional magicians from IBM Ring 45. Magicians Jeff Silver and Rick Alan amazed the audience with illusions and sleight of hand, while mentalist Alexander Beresford amazed with demonstrations of the mind. Following the show, attendees were able to attend several events. The athletic attendees were invited to compete in a Soccer Shoot and Hoop Shoot. For others, the lodge game room offered board games such as Monopoly, Yahtzee, Connect 4, UNO and Scrabble. CARD staff member Jennifer Feinstein said all the attendees thoroughly enjoyed themselves. CARD clients and their families and caregivers all got to participate and enjoy the festivities. Exalted Ruler and grant co-writer, Ramon Matos, was thrilled that so many lodge members volunteered to help. Matos is also a client of the CARD program and is the first autistic Exalted Ruler in Florida.

Pictured are lodge members Barry Wake, Pam Wake and Manny Perez serving food; mentalist Alex Beresford with an attendee; magician Jeff Silver; and UM student volunteer Gillian Perez.