Peggie Sue Dygert, Exalted Ruler of Deep Creek Elks Lodge #2763, points to her lodge’s name at the top of the donor banner displayed at the Florida Elks Charities Unmasking Autism Gala in St. Petersburg, Florida, April 22. The lodge raised the largest amount for selling hearts for the Heartbeat Campaign in support of the gala. The lodge worked to sell the hearts to members and their guests. They started right after Christmas with an autism heart tree, which became filled with purchased hearts, but they continued collecting donations.
Peggie Sue Dygert, Exalted Ruler of Deep Creek Elks Lodge #2763, points to her lodge’s name at the top of the donor banner displayed at the Florida Elks Charities Unmasking Autism Gala in St. Petersburg, Florida, April 22. The lodge raised the largest amount for selling hearts for the Heartbeat Campaign in support of the gala. The lodge worked to sell the hearts to members and their guests. They started right after Christmas with an autism heart tree, which became filled with purchased hearts, but they continued collecting donations.
On April 20, Punta Gorda Elks Lodge #2606 hosted one of its regular blood drives. The One Blood organization donated a T-shirt and a $20 gift card to donors. A total of 27 pints were donated by lodge members. One pint saves three lives, so from this drive, 81 lives can be saved.
Pictured is Ambrose Yelovich, PER, Chaplain, who has donated 26 gallons and 6 pints of blood to date.
On March 19, Punta Gorda Lodge hosted a steak roast for 100 members and guests. The proceeds of $2,000 were donated to local high school students in the form of two $1,000 scholarships.
Pictured are the chefs for the event — Bob Hahn, PER; Bill Jameson, PER; Ambrose Yelovich, PER, Chaplain; Bill Dryburgh, PDD; and Eric Rolston, PER.
On March 7, Deep Creek Elks Lodge #2763 donated $4,182 to the Heartbeats Campaign, which is selling hearts to support the Unmasking Autism gala. Its theme this year is The Power of Love. The campaign funds go to Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services, a project of the Florida State Elks Association. About half of its patients have autism spectrum disorder.