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Northwest District
Fort Walton Elks Support Second Annual Dragon Boat Races for Bring Hope Now
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
Fort Walton Lodge donated $1,000 to Bring Hope Now in support of the second annual Dragon Boat Races, which will be held Sept. 7 at The Gulf on Okaloosa Island. Bring Hope Now's mission is to save lives and support the families affected by suicide in the community. They are providing the community with a national peer-to-peer suicide prevention program designed for schools. They have created the Hope Squad, which is available to every school in the Okaloosa County School District, and are working with every secondary school in Santa Rosa County. They have raised enough funds for all schools in Escambia, Bay, Walton and Leon Counties to cover the entire northwest region.
Pictured are members Pam Lee, Kathy Houchins, Tony Cronley, and Sheri Cronley; Peggy Brockman, Executive Director; and Rob Parks, Exalted Ruler.
Fort Walton Elks Lodge Hosts Flag Day and Father's Day Celebration
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On June 15, Fort Walton Elks Lodge #1795 had an open house permit and hosted 250 people (60% members and 40% members of the public) for its annual Flag Day ceremony and Father’s Day celebration. All lodge officers were present. The occasion included a shrimp and crawfish boil.
Pictured are Joe Reames, trustee; Tom McLaughlin, PER; Renea Black, Inner Guard; Terri Griffin, PER, Loyal Knight; Rob Parks, Exalted Ruler; Marcia WrightReynolds, Loyal Knight; Dusty Austin, member; Susan Henry, Chaplain; and Heath Hamilton, Tiler.
Pensacola Beach Elks Support Gulf Breeze High School AFJROTC
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On April 18, Pensacola Beach Elks Lodge #497 donated $5,000 to the Gulf Breeze High School AFJROTC to help with costs associated with uniforms and competition travel. The group has served the lodge for Flag Day and the annual beach Veterans Day parade for many years. JROTC teaches leadership, character development, physical fitness and aerospace science.
Pictured are Elk Greg Eddins; cadets RJ Maiga, Jonah Studdard, Natalie Gall, and Zara Tavai; and Jim Rodriguez, PER, Exalted Ruler.
Twin Cities Elks Lodge Presents Scholarship to AFJROTC Cadet
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
During the Niceville High School AFJROTC awards ceremony April 17, PER Don Dowdy of , Twin Cities Elks Lodge #2747 presented Cadet Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Jackson with the Florida State Elks Association Northwest District $3,000 AFJROTC scholarship.
Fort Walton Elks Lodge Donates Grant to ABA Behavioral Health
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
Using its Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant, Fort Walton Lodge donated $2,000 March 28 to the ABA Behavioral Health Applied Behavior Analysis school for costs associated with the expansion of current facilities used to treat and educate children and young adults on the autism spectrum. Prior to the expansion, children were comingled, creating emotional stressors for clients when surrounded by others. ABA Behavioral Health's mission is to provide children and young adults on the autism spectrum with meaningful life-changing therapy in a positive and loving environment. The need for ABA Behavioral Health services continues to grow and has increased to the point that local ABA offices need to expand or add onto existing facilities to address the increased need for therapy services.
Pictured are Margaret Trujillo, BCBA, ABA Behavioral Health owner; Danielle Fitzgerald, BCBA assistant clinical director; and Jamie Clemons, Lodge Secretary.
Choctawhatchee High School Weightlifting Team Receives Boost from Fort Walton Elks
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On March 26, Fort Walton Lodge donated $750 to the award-winning Choctawhatchee High School weightlifting team as they continue their season with the goal of returning to the Florida High School Sports Association (FHSAA) state finals.
Pictured are students Cole Tabb, Titus Thornell, Jalil Griffin, all part of the 2023 2A weightlifting state championship team. Tabb was the 2023 Olympic and traditional weightlifting Florida state champion and was a Florida state champion in track in his junior year. He was selected as the USA Today 35 Offensive Player of the Year. He has signed and committed to Stanford University.
Pensacola Beach Elks Donate Funds to Loaves & Fishes
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
Pensacola Beach Lodge donated $2,500 from lodge charity funds March 22 to Loaves & Fishes of Pensacola, which operates a thrift store, and the proceeds help their soup kitchen continue to serve those who are hungry and provide for families in need. Loaves & Fishes has been serving the Pensacola area for more than 40 years. They also maintain an emergency shelter.
Pictured are Ken “KB” Branch, PER, endorsed District Vice President, and LaFaye Hill of Loaves & Fishes.
Manna Food Bank Receives $2,500 from Pensacola Beach Elks Lodge
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On March 22, Pensacola Beach Lodge donated $2,500 from lodge charity funds to Manna Food Bank Inc., a local grassroots organization fighting hunger in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. They provide groceries directly to individuals and families in need at no charge. Most of the funding comes from individuals, foundations, faith-based organizations, corporations and businesses. Manna is nonsectarian, community-focused and volunteer-supported. They believe every person has a right to live free of hunger and to be treated with respect and dignity.
Pictured are Ken “KB” Branch, PER, endorsed District Vice President, and Milissa Blanton, Manna Food Bank marketing and events manager.
Fort Walton Elks Support Local Food Backpack Program
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On March 6, Fort Walton Lodge donated its $2,000 Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church for the backpack program, which assists Annette P. Edwins Elementary School, located in Fort Walton Beach. The program provides food to help families that may be forced to sacrifice nutritional meals because they have to pay for medicine, utilities, gas and other supplies for the household due to their financial situation. This school averages 45 students per week who need and qualify for the food assistance program.
Pictured are Joe Reames, trustee; Tom McLaughlin, Exalted Ruler; Bernie Coalt, member; Mary Ann Coalt, Treasurer; Jamie Clemons, Secretary; Paul Eubanks, PER, trustee; church members Waldi Anguiano, Sandy See, Candy Rains, Janet Eblen, Shirley Bow, Bill Bow, and Betsy Stein; and Mark Wynn, Lecturing Knight.
Fort Walton Elks Lodge Shares Grant with Sharing & Caring Food Bank
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
Fort Walton Lodge donated $4,000 from its Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant March 8 to Sharing & Caring of Okaloosa County Inc., located in Fort Walton Beach, Niceville and Crestview, Florida. Sharing & Caring is an emergency food source for those in need who qualify within guidelines. It is available to anyone who resides within the area of Hurlburt Field on the west, to Destin on the east and to Eglin Air Force Base on the north. Their clients include families, children, seniors, the unhoused and the unemployed. Area churches, civic organizations, individuals, businesses and the United Way fund the all-volunteer organizations.
Pictured are Joe Reames, trustee; Paul Eubanks, PER, trustee; Tom McLaughlin, Exalted Ruler; Ken Winzeler, board president; Sharon McLaughlin, pantry volunteer; Andi Crawford, volunteer; Penny Eubanks, manager; Rob Parks, Leading Knight; Mark Wynn, Lecturing Knight; and Michael “Taz” WrightReynolds, PER.
Gulf Breeze Camping World Receives Recognition from Pensacola Beach Elks Lodge
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
Pensacola Beach Lodge presented a certificate of honor Feb. 2 to Gulf Breeze Camping World for flying the United States flag. This is part of the Elks Grand Lodge recognition program. This certificate is presented to businesses and merchants around the area of the lodge for proper display of flying the flag during the day and at night with proper illumination.
Anthony Waight, general manager, is pictured with the certificate.
Fort Walton Elks Make Donation to Saving with Soul Pet Rescue of Northwest Florida
- Details
- Written by Taz WrightReynolds, PER
On Dec. 15, Fort Walton Elks Lodge #1795 presented a $500 check to Saving with Soul Pet Rescue of Northwest Florida. Saving with Soul is a local foster-based pet rescue which, in 2023, found new homes and provided medical care for more than 1,500 dogs and cats. This donation will help SWS in its latest challenge of establishing a much-needed low-cost spay and neuter clinic option for the local community. Their motto is “Help Us Help Shelter Animals Find Their Way HOME!”
Pictured are Jeff Mullins, member; Jennifer Allen Hagedorn, SWS director; and Tammie Mullins, member.