Oglesby Public School Dean of Students Mike Balestri, left, and school nurse Mary Newcomer, right, show Oglesby Lodge Exalted Ruler Don Finley and Leading Knight Ken Ficek some of the clothes purchased with a $2,000 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to the lodge for the school district’s Students in Need initiative.
Wheaton Recognizes Lodge Winners of the Americanism Essay Contest
Wheaton 2258 Past Exalted Rulers Thomas Tracy and Judith Pokorney recognized their lodge winners of the Americanism essay contest, first- and second-place winners Julia Ryan and Katelyn Basel, both students at St. Isadore School in Bloomingdale. Ryan won $25 for her effort.
Elgin Lodge Presents Dictionaries
Elgin 737 members Sue Steinback and Frank Celarek presented dictionaries to an appreciative class of third-graders at St. Thomas More Sc” and hool in Elgin in December. Pupils penned notes to Steinback and Celarek, thanking them for the “cool,” “awesome” and “terrific, super” dictionaries they were given. “What a benevolent group the Elks are,” Eduardo […]
Granite City Lodge Donates to Lambert Airport-based USO
Granite City Lodge 1063 donated $500 to the Lambert Airport-based USO in fall 2016. Past District Deputy A. Sonny Ambuehl presents the check to USO Director of Volunteers Jennifer Warner, flanked by USO Operations Manager Cary Warner and volunteer and Past VFW Commander Dave Miller.
Princeton Lodge has Help for Christmas Basket Program
Princeton Lodge had a lot of help for its annual Labor of Love Christmas Basket Program, led by Past Exalted Ruler Penny Best. With Best, in right photo, are area residents Lori Zeman and Franke Wolsfield; Sue Schnarr and Marie Roth, in middle photo; and three unidentified managers from the Bureau County food pantry.
Northwest District Donates to Illinois Veterans Home
The IEA Northwest District donated $2,000 to veterans at the Illinois Veterans Home in LaSalle, just in time for Christmas. A home resident displays the $2,000 check, along with Princeton 1461 Exalted Ruler Eric May, lodge Veterans Chair Penny Best and home activities dirctor Susan Scully. The donation is in addition to the $200 and […]
Oak Lawn Lodge Donates to Manteno Veterans Home
Oak Lawn Lodge 2254 donated $3,000 to the Manteno Veterans Home in fall 2016 to help fund a Thanksgiving luncheon for veterans at the home. Oak Lawn Veterans Chairman Mike Simental presents the check to Silvia Bell, a veterans assistant at Manteno, left, and Program Direcor Cindy Scott.
Dennis Gerleman Presented with the President’s Volunteer Award
Past State President Dennis Gerleman, center, is presented with the President’s Volunteer Award in January. Past District Deputy Jon Coulter, left, presented the award and Brandon Gerleman, right, the pin. Gerleman was nominated for the U.S. presidential award by IEA Drug Awareness Chairman Frank Burr for Gerleman’s more than 3,000 hours of community service.
Centralia Lodge 493 Supports Shop with a Cop Program
Centralia Lodge 493 in December presented the Centralia Police Department with a $1,500 check — proceeds from an Elks National Foundation per capta grant — for its annual Shop with a Cop program. From left are Loyal Knight Tony Korzenewski, police Officer Andrew Harvard, Lecturing Knight Blake Freels, Exalted Ruler Jason Hoerchler, Trustee Pat Norrenberns […]
200 Families Receive Food Basket from Carlinville Lodge
Food Baskets help 200 families in Carlinville An estimated 200 families received a food basket in December from Carlinville Lodge 1412, continuing a holiday tradition that dates to the 1950s. More than 150 volunteers packed and delivered the food boxes. Each basket was filled with basic nutritional food. Carlinville Elks depend on area businesses and […]