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Gateway Elks Lodge Charities

BETTY HISE COMMITTEE

Gateway's Betty Hise Committee is a Lodge chapter of the Betty Hise Trust for Cancer Research.

The Betty Hise Trust for Cancer Research is a non-profit organization created as a program for Oregon and Idaho ladies and Elks to promote and generate ongoing funds for the research and treatment of cancer. All funds raised go directly to the Betty Hise Trust for Cancer Research. The money is held in trust and is invested. The goal is to raise enough money to donate larger and larger sums to the research effort.

The larger the trust fund grows, the greater the interest earned. This interest is then contributed annually to Northwest cancer researchers. Our current recipients are the Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) and Idaho's Mountain States Tumor Institute(ISTI). No funds are used for administrative costs.

Betty Hise Betty Hise (1916-1987) was the wife of Past Grand Exalted Ruler Frank Hise.  Due to her diagnosis of breast cancer, she endured 5 major surgeries during the last 15 years of her life, but she sadly lost her fight in 1987.  Because cancer affects so many women of all ages, Pat Bybee, her friend from Idaho, wanted to establish a fund for cancer research in Betty's honor.  Unfortunately, Pat died of a heart attack before the fund could be established.  But others continued the cause and the Betty Hise Trust for Cancer Research was established.  All monies collected are placed in an irreducible trust from which the interest is used for cancer research in hospitals, clinics, labs, etc in Idaho and Oregon.

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casey eye clinic

Elks Childrens' Eye Clinic

The Oregon Elks have made the "miracle of sight" a reality for thousands of Oregon's children.  Since 1949, the Elks have supported the Elks Children's Eye Clinic at Oregon Health Sciences University's (OHSU's) Casey Eye Institute.  Over the decades, with millions of dollars and thousands of volunteer hours, the Elks have brought sight to over 100,000 patients who might not otherwise have experienced this most precious sense.
Elks provide more than 7,500 volunteer hours per year, equivalent to over 3 full-time positions and many have been working since the Casey Eye Institute opened in 1991.  Another way Oregon Elks help children is by giving each child who has surgery a stuffed "Casey the Elk" doll and a hand-made quilt or afghan.  Oregon Lady Elks creates these one-of-a-kind gifts for patients. CASEY THE ELK
The Elks Visual Committee and the Elks Youth Eye Services Foundation (E.Y.E.S.) provide funding annually, around a million dollars, to the Elks Children's Eye Clinic.  These funds support personnel, the latest technology and equipment and medical supplies.  Additionally, the Elks' generous support provides eyeglasses and contact lenses for children whose families cannot afford them.  The Elks Ophthalmology Center is the cornerstone of the Casey Eye Institute, a national leader in clinical care related to blinding eye diseases.
The Oregon Elks participate in planning events for the clinic such as the annual Easter egg hunt for current and past patients of the clinic and their families.  The most recent hunt had over 700 attendees.  The annual Elks Eye Injury Prevention Poster Contest is held around the state Oregon for elementary students with the state's Top 3 winning posters displayed at the clinic for a year.  Annually, the Strike Out for Kids Bowl-a-thon is held around the state to raise funds for the clinic as well.  These events and many others show the Oregon Elks' commitment to their state major project, the Elks Children's Eye Clinic.
volunteers
CLICK HERE to learn more about the Casey Eye Institute





Members of Gateway Lodge spend time each week volunteering their services at the Eye Clinic. They answer the phones, greet patients & guest, help them find their way around the building and generally do whatever they can.  Our Gateway volunteers at the Casey Eye Clinic are (l-r): Lois Freeman, Eleanor Brown and Shirley Stambaugh.


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The Elks National Foundation

History

With a grant of $100,000, the Elks National Foundation (ENF) was established in 1928 as the charitable arm of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks.

Who contributes to the Foundation?

Since its inception in 1928, the Foundation has received more than $130 million in contributions from Elks, their families and friends. These donations go directly into the Foundation’s endowment fund, where they are never touched. Only income from the fund is expended. The Elks National Foundation distributed more than $13,108,503 million in the 2004-2005 year:

  • $5.359 million in grants to state Elks associations
  • $3.159 million in college scholarships
  • $315,000 to the Elks National Home
  • $614,125 to the Elks National Hoop Shoot® program
  • $547,000 to the Elks Drug Awareness Program
  • $749,900 to the Elks National Veterans Service Commission
  • $502,506 to the Elks Veterans Memorial Building

Who does it support?

The Elks National Foundation offers five scholarship programs. Offering one and four-year college scholarship opportunities for up to 2,000 students each year.

  • Most Valuable Student Scholarships
    $2.213 million for 500 four-year scholarships for the nation’s top students
  • Eagle Scout Scholarships
    $48,000 in four-year scholarships for eight Eagle Scouts selected by the Boy Scouts of America.
  • Girl Scout Gold Award Scholarships
    $48,000 in four-year scholarships for eight Gold Award recipients selected by the Girl Scouts of the United States of America.
  • Legacy Awards for Children of Elks
    $500,000 for up to 500 one-year merit-based scholarships for the children of Elks who have been in good standing for at least two years.
  • Emergency Educational Fund Grants
    Reserved $350,000 for one-year educational grants to the children of deceased or totally incapacitated Elks. Grants typically range from $1,000 to $4,000 and are renewable up to three times.

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Other ENF Programs

Youth Programs

  • Elks Drug Awareness Program
    The Foundation granted $547,000 to fund the Elks Drug Awareness Program, including printing and shipping millions of pieces of educational literature. This also includes Promise Grants for Lodges that pledge to hold events free of drugs, alcohol and violence, for youth in their communities.




  • Elks National Hoop Shoot® Free Throw Contest

    The Foundation granted $614,125 to fund the Elks Hoop Shoot ® program.  More than 3 million youths will participate this year.




Veterans Services

  • Elks National Veterans Service Commission
    The Foundation granted $749,900 this year to the Veterans Service Commission, to provide aid and comfort for America’s hospitalized veterans.
  • Elks Veterans Memorial
    The Foundation granted $456,500 to maintain the Elks Veterans Memorial in Chicago.
State Association Grants



State Association Grants

The Foundation will distribute over $5.3 million to state Elks associations. These grants will help fund major projects such as children’s hospitals, youth camps and safe havens, as well as state scholarships, Drug Awareness and Hoop Shoot® Programs.



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How Can You Help?

  • You can donate online at www.elks.org/donate
  • You can make a one-time donation
  • You can pledge a fixed amount over a course of time
  • You may contribute to the Foundation in memory of loved ones
  • You can name the Elks National Foundation as a beneficiary of your estate

For more information about the Elks National Foundation please contact our lodge ENF Chairperson at or:

Elks National Foundation
2750 N. Lakeview Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
773/755-4728
email: enf@elks.org
Web site: www.elks.org/enf

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Meadowood Springs Summer Camp for
Hearing and Speech Impaired Children

short blurb about picture contents Meadowood Springs Speech and Hearing Camp is a major charitable project of the Oregon State Elks Association and its subordinate lodges.  This camp would not be possible without the Elks' dedication and commitment to helping children 6 to 16 years of age with speech, language and hearing challenges. Each year, the Oregon State Elks and Lady Elks sponsor children to attend one of two 10-day summer residential camps/clinics.
The Elks became involved with Meadowood in December of 1968. $700 was raised after a program was outlined and presented to the Elks.  Since that time, the Elks have continued to support Meadowood Springs Speech and Hearing Camp.
In May of 1973, the Oregon State Elks Association adopted Meadowood Springs Speech and Hearing Camp as a major project under the leadership of the Physically Handicapped Committee.  In May of 1981, Meadowood became a separate committee of the Oregon State Elks and today it remains as one of the Association's major projects.
In the ensuing years, the Elks have contributed enormously to the growth of the camp. Today, the Oregon State Elks and Lady Elks contribute annually to the camp for sponsorships, medallion program, equipment maintenance, designated funds and general operating funds.  We should also note that a number of the cabins at Meadowood are named after individual lodges within Oregon.  Either that lodge built the cabin and still maintains it, or it was adopted as a project after the cabin was built.
Financial assistance is not the only service the Elks and Lady Elks contribute to Meadowood.  They also volunteer hundreds of hours each year maintaining the facilities at the camp.  Over Memorial Weekend and following two weekends, the Oregon Elks travel to Eastern Oregon to assess the winter damage and make repairs to the camp in preparation for the summer camp/clinic. 
What other ways have Oregon Elks helped Meadowood?  Construction of A-frame cabins, infirmary for nursing care, multipurpose building, large outdoor pool and accompanying wading pool, pool house with showers and dressing room, bathhouses, laundry facilities, large dining hall, man-made lake for fishing and canoeing and the list goes on.  Even grading and building of mountain roads into the camp was the result of the Oregon State Elks' tenacity and ingenuity.  Numerous "in-kind" donations have also been contributed by the Elks — to name a few: a steam table, salad bar, tools, paint, computers, printers, stuffed animals, clothing, art supplies, truck, gravel, equipment use, golf carts, lumber for decks, paper products, janitori al supplies, office supplies, books, videos, puzzles, games, food, kitchen supplies and equipment, pool chemicals and so on.

For more information about Meadowood Springs Summer Camp please CLICK HERE

NEW WAY TO ASSIST MEADOWOOD!

Meadowood Springs Speech and Hearing Camp is a major charitable project of the Oregon State Elks Association and its subordinate lodges.  This camp would not be possible without the Elks' dedication and commitment to helping children 6 to 16 years of age with speech, language and hearing challenges.

AND NOW YOU CAN HELP TOO!

eScrip has partnered with local businesses and major credit card companies to donate a percentage of your purchases to your favorite charity...every time you use your card!  
eScrip is proven to be a fantastic resource for fundraising where participating business partners contribute a percentage of your grocery loyalty cards, credit card, and debit/ATM card purchases to the school, group or organization of your choice.  Now you can sign up for this fanrtastic service to help support Meadowood Springs Speech and Hearing Camp!
And it is so easy!
Simply go online to eScrip.com and select "Group ID".  Enter the number 50001614 for Meadowood Springs Speech-Hearing Camp and then fill out the rest of the registration form and you're done!  Within about a week, every time you use the cards you indicate on the registration, Meadowood will recieve a percentage of the amount.  And, with your eScrip account, you can track your purchases and your donations to Meadowood!

You can also download the form by clicking HERE, fill it out and mail it in.  This method takes about 6-8 weeks processing time.

We at Gateway Elks encourage not only all Elks but anyone who wishes to sign up for this most worthy cause. It's for the kids and they are extremely grateful!

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