Florida Elks News Editor:
Rachael King
 
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Florida State Elks Association Inc.
P.O. Box 49
Umatilla, FL 32784-0049
352-669-9443

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Andrew Finn is an International Baccalaureate (IB) student at Robinson High School. According to the school’s website, https://robinsonhighib.com/learn-about-ib/, “Robinson High’s Magnet IB uses the IB Diploma Programme to develop students who have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge—students who flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically. The IB Diploma Programme curriculum is a rigorous, pre-university course for the highly motivated student. It offers a comprehensive and integrated academic program and provides the student an opportunity to earn college credits while in high school.” Finn has been to the Florida Elks Youth Camp three times as a camper, and this year he was hired to work as a counselor-in-training. Prior to his employment, he started a project for the camp of collecting toiletry items that were especially important to him when the camp provided him with what he had forgotten to bring. He called his campaign the “Happy Camper Hero.” It was a very personal mission, and when he had not reached his goal after soliciting his friends and family to contribute through a designated Amazon account, he reached out to the Tampa Lodge Secretary, Rick Schneider, to see if his wish list could be distributed to the Tampa Elks Lodge members. Schneider decided that it would be more expeditious to just give him the cash to shop for the items locally. He made the motion at a lodge meeting to donate $250 from charity funds towards this mission. The motion passed, and Andrew received the check from Schneider (left) and Paul DeLand, Exalted Ruler, May 16. To the members’ surprise June 8, Schneider received another email from Andrew, this time asking how to give them a refund since he had met his goal and had money left over. He was instructed to donate it to the camp. This is the kind of character that spending time at the Florida Elks Youth Camp instills in children.