News Features
P.O. Box 49
Umatilla, FL 32784-0049
Share Your Story
We'd love to see & share your Lodge & District Events!
Let's promote what our Florida Elks are doing to support your community
Preserve any person, event, or memory with a personalized brick at your Florida Elks Youth Camp in Umatilla, Florida.
Learn More
South District
Florida Keys Elks Raise $30,000 for Charities from Ladies Dolphin Tournament
- Details
- Written by Florida Keys Elks
Florida Keys Elks Lodge #1872 held its eighth annual Ladies Dolphin Tournament June 10-11. More than 90 anglers from around the country participated. This event is the lodge's largest fundraiser of the year, with all proceeds going to various charities, including the Elks National Foundation, the Harry Anna Trust Fund and the Vets on the Water program. Thanks to the year-long promotions and the tremendous support from local sponsors in the Middle Keys, the lodge raised more than $30,000. The grand champions, No Tan Lines, won the top prize of $3,000 with a combined weight total of 65.4 pounds. The second place winners were Angler Eddy’s, who won $1,500 with 42.3 pounds. The third place team, Blue Heaven, won $1,000 with 30.4 pounds. Mia Diaz won $1,000 for the largest dolphin caught, at 25.8 pounds. Callie Diehl, 14-year-old from Lakeland, Florida, caught the largest dolphin by a junior angler, at l6.7 pounds. All winners were also awarded trophies and other prizes. This event takes many volunteers and a lot of hard work throughout the year. The event coordinators were Diane Harbaugh, honorary life member, and Denny Tarbell, PDD, Lodge Advisor.
Pictured are Sandra Nikitich of Islamorada and Christina Veath of Tavernier, grand champions; Mia Diaz of Miami, who caught the largest dolphin; and Callie Diehl with Mate Jesse Hall and Captain Skye Stanley.
Miami Elks Lodge Donates School Supplies to Local Youth Center
- Details
- Written by Laz Suarez
On May 31, Miami Elks Lodge #948 donated a trailer-load of school supplies courtesy of Florida Elks Charities to the Belafonte TACOLCY (The Advisory Committee of Liberty City Youth) Center in Miami, Florida. Laz Suarez, Florida State Elks Association Marketing Manager and Miami Lodge member, was given a tour of the facility. According to its website, the TACOLCY center reaches over 5,000 youth and parents annually and is a nonprofit organization in Liberty City (a neighborhood in Miami) offering “a safe haven where children, youth, young adults, families and mentors come together in a variety of activities to strengthen the bonds and skills that produce healthy, educated, confident and compassionate leaders of tomorrow.”
Pictured are a staff member; Laz Suarez; a staff member; and Shownda Pagan, TACOLCY Center CEO.
Florida Keys Elks Lodge Hosts Local Soccer Shoot
- Details
- Written by Florida Keys Elks
On Nov. 14, Florida Keys Lodge held its lodge-level Soccer Shoot and hosted 40 community children from ages 5 to 14. Six participants moved on to the district competition and two placed first to go on to the state Soccer Shoot Jan. 8.
Pictured are Soccer Shoot volunteers Morgan Sayre, Jennifer Belz, Kristina Landino and Nishith Bryan.
Florida Keys Lodge Celebrates Red Ribbon Week
- Details
- Written by Florida Keys Elks
On Oct. 23, Florida Keys Elks Lodge members attended the Founders Park Trunk-or-Treat event as a way to be visible in the community. Members gave away more than 500 red ribbons and candy in honor of Red Ribbon week. Pictured are Linda Sullivan, member; Elroy the Elk (Brian Sayre); State Drug Awareness Vice Chair, Denny Tarbell; and Angela Sayre, Exalted Ruler.
Florida Keys Lodge and Scout Troops Retire More than 400 Flags
- Details
- Written by Florida Keys Elks
During Florida Keys Lodge’s annual Flag Day ceremony June 14, local Scout Troops 912 and 914 retired more than 400 flags. The event included many members of the community.
Scouts Serve Meal at Florida Keys Lodge to Raise Funds for Camp
- Details
- Written by Florida Keys Elks
On June 5, Florida Keys Lodge partnered with Scout Troop 914 in preparing a barbecue meal for more than 150 in attendance. The event raised $2,500 for their summer camp. Pictured are scouts AJ Delgado, Aiden Pegues, Oliver Rutten, Keegan Wittke, Simon Gutierrez, Wyatt Brown and Jack Brown.
Florida Keys Lodge Raises Funds for Domestic Abuse Shelter
- Details
- Written by Florida Keys Elks
On May 1, Florida Keys Elks Lodge #1872 held its 2021 Kentucky Derby benefit and raised $1,755 for the Domestic Abuse Shelter of the Upper Keys. This fun event was very well received in the community with more than100 members and guests in attendance. A check was presented to the organization during the May 13 lodge meeting. Pictured are Laura Springer, victim advocate; Sheryl Schwab, executive director of the Domestic Abuse Shelter; and Angela Sayre, Exalted Ruler.
Lodge #1676's Charity Ball Celebrates 75 Years
- Details
- Written by South Miami/Coral Gables Elks
On Feb. 13, South Miami/Coral Gables Elks Lodge #1676 held its annual charity ball. Because the lodge was chartered July 18, 1945, they celebrated 75 years with the 16-piece Rich Vanderburg Big Band, who volunteered their services. The event raised $4,700 which will be used toward the lodge’s Harry-Anna Trust Fund and Elks National Foundation per capitas.
South Miami/Coral Gables Elks Provide Meals to 125 Families in Need
- Details
- Written by South Miami/Coral Gables Elks
On March 20, South Miami/Coral Gables Elks Lodge #1676 teamed with One More Child & Reality Church to distribute food to 125 South Dade families in need. Reality Church brought 20 student volunteers from Georgia Southern University to the lodge to help pack. The students were in Miami for a mission trip with Reality Church, which is part of the North American Mission Board (NAMB). The students and lodge members packed each box with 24 pounds of canned goods, consisting of a variety of vegetables, pasta, sauce, tuna, mayo, pancake mix, syrup, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, rice and fruit snacks. The food and boxes that were used for packing the food were purchased with an Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant.
Miami Elks and Others Pack 350 Bags of Food for Locals Experiencing Food Insecurity
- Details
- Written by Miami Elks
On Feb. 28, members of Cornerstone Church of Miami along with members of Miami Elks Lodge #948, the JROTC program at G. Holmes Braddock High School and the One More Child organization gathered at the lodge to pack 350 bags of food for the local community suffering from food insecurity. The food was purchased using $1,000 from the lodge charity fund and $1,500 from the church. New lodge member John Martinez supervises this JROTC program and brought several of the cadets (in yellow shirts) to help.
Pictured in the front row are Yvonne Makenna; Patricia Jaromilla; Kathleen Blackwood, lodge member; Michael Naya, lodge member; Doris Meyers, lodge member; Ignacio Pena, lodge member; Amparo Pena, Carmen Layne Powers, lodge member; and Panos Kourtesis, regional director of south Florida for One More Child. Pictured in the middle row and in the middle of the back row are members and family of the JROTC. Pictured in the back row on the left is Jeffrey Muehlfeld, PDD, Exalted Ruler, and on the right is John Martinez. Not pictured is Maria Dewitt who volunteered with the packing but took this photo.
Florida Keys Lodge Hosts Breakfast with Santa
- Details
- Written by Florida Keys Elks
Florida Keys Elks Lodge #1872 used its Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to hold a breakfast with Santa Dec. 5 with more than 100 children and family members in attendance. Families enjoyed breakfast, tableside activities and a singalong. Mr. and Mrs. Claus made their appearance and provided social distancing while family photos were taken in the Christmas sleigh. All children received personalized gifts and goody bags to take home. The afternoon highlight was a performance by local magician, Michael Trixx, who entertained everyone with his extravagant show. Many members were involved in putting this community event together for a day of fun. Pictured are Brenda Cockrell, Exalted Ruler; Nikki Johnson, member; and Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Also shown are gifts purchased for the children and one of the children dressed up to see Santa Claus.
South Miami/Coral Gables Elks Use Grant to Provide Food to 210 Familes
- Details
- Written by South Miami/Coral Gables Elks
On Aug. 13, South Miami/Coral Gables Elks Lodge #1676 used its $2,000 Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant in cooperation with Miami Dade Police Department Neighbor Resource Unit, Officer Tookes and the office of Commissioner Dennis Moss to distribute food to families at the following locations: Hope Deliverance Church (50 families), Sunset Point Public Housing (50 families), Arthur Mays Villas Public Housing (50 families), Gould's Senior Citizens Center (30 families), West Jessamine Elderly Center (10 families), West Evergreen Elderly Center (10 families), and Circle Plaza East & West Public Housing Complex (10 families).