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Shown here are attendees Gracee Gephart (sitting) and Mackenzie Valley, as they participate in events at the Elks booth. During the recently completed three-day Philipsburg Heritage Days , forty-eight members of Philipsburg Elks Lodge # 1173 worked together with Clearfield-Jefferson Drug and Alcohol Commission, to provide 658 youth who attended, with an opportunity to play drug awareness-geared games, win prizes, make posters, as well as learn about the Elks Drug Prevention Contests. During this same timeframe, 382 adults were offered printed materials, with educational information, regarding alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs. Attendees were also given resources from Clearfield- Jefferson Drug and Alcohol Commission, for those who may be in need of assistance with substance use disorder. Attendees were given 400 tote bags, and 50 drug awareness-themed balls, frisbees, and coloring books were given out to help spread the word about the ELKS DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAM.

Shown on left: ER Michel and right is new Eagle Scout Vinnedge. Bellefonte Elks Lodge # 1094 Exalted Ruler Terree Michel recently attended the Eagle Scout Award Ceremony for Hailey Vinnedge, daughter of Claudia and Jason Vinnedge of Bellefonte, PA. Hailey is a member of Scouts BSA Troop 35, and her achievement also marks Scouts BSA Troop 35’s first Eagle Scout since the inception of the Troop in 2019. She was one of the founding members of the Troop. Additionally, Hailey earned 23 merit badges and is an Ordeal Member of the Order of the Arrow. For her Eagle Scout Project, Hailey removed densely-populated invasive species in and around an historic foundation, situated along the Bluebird Trail at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center. In addition, Hailey discovered dozens of artifacts during her work on the Eagle Scout Project. Exalted Ruler Michel presented an Elks Eagle Scout Certificate and U. S. Flag to the new Eagle Scout. The Elks congratulates Hailey on her outstanding achievement and wish her well in her upcoming endeavors.

Pictured from L to R are Lewistown Elks Members Chris Wagner, ER; Kevin Lloyd, PER (Elroy); and Todd Shilling, Secretary Lewistown Elks Lodge #663 promoted Drug Awareness Program in Mifflin County’s National Night Out, August 6, 2024 that was held at Kish Park. There was approximately 900 people in attendance.

Details on the program can be found at https://www.elks.org/scholars/scholarships/MVS.cfm

On Friday July 26, 2024, members of the Frackville Elks Lodge's Veterans Service committee purchased items, assembled four Welcome Home kits valued at $1,600, and delivered one of them to a Veteran in need in Frackville, PA and the three others to the Veterans Multi-Service Center, Reading, PA.

Jim Bowers PER and Veterans chair from Sharon Lodge #103 presents a check for $1,000 to Alexis Spence-Locke Development Director of the Mercer County Food Warehouse. This gift was made possible through the Freedom Grant we were awarded. The monies will target Veterans in need.

Emergency Educational Grants provide undergraduate college financial assistance to children of deceased or totally disabled Elks in the form of renewable, one-year grants of up to $5,000. The grant is for educational assistance only and is not intended to cover the entire cost of a college education. Details can be found at https://www.elks.org/scholars/scholarships/Eefgrants.cfm

Exalted Ruler, Ted Dornin, presented a check for $4,850 to the Elliott Federal Credit Union for the King Family fund that will benefit the families and neighbors impacted by the tragic fire in Jeannette last week. We know there are many choices when it comes to donating, and we are so thankful that you chose to donate to this fundraiser, we are forever grateful for the generosity of our members.

Thankful for our great members that came out to pack food bags for the Veterans and the food pantry. We thank the ENF for our Community Improvement Grants that we get to help our neighbors and Veterans in need.

The state ritual contest will be held on April 20, 2024 at West shore Lodge 108 N. St. Johns Church Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011. Judging will begin at 9 AM. Teams will go off at 10 and 11 AM respectively. Members wanting to go off early for toast, flag charge and individual officer ritual contest may do so between 9 AM and 10 AM. All other members for toast, flag charge and individual officer ritual contest will go off after the lunch break. Please email me to reserve a time slot for either the toast, flag charge or individual officer ritual contest. If a time slot is not reserved, you will have to wait for the next available unreserved slot. My email is [REDACTED] (go to https://www.paelks.org/ritualistic-committee for contact information). An audience is welcome. I will be reserving a block of rooms at a local hotel for both Friday and Saturday nights for anyone interested in staying over. Please let me know if you're interested in one of these rooms for either one or both nights as soon as possible. No overnight stay is required for members to compete at any contest. I hope to see you there. Rich Dunay, Ritualistic Chair

We are excited to introduce our Pa Elks Home Service Program Child of the Year, Elyse Brown. Elyse is 8 years old, the youngest child of Amanda and Matt Brown, with two older brothers, Sam (13) and Max (11). We believe in the beautiful uniqueness of all the children that we work with, and Elyse is no exception. She has been diagnosed with Mitochondrial Disease, with such a unique genetic mutation that she is in a class of her own. Due to her uniqueness, she has been invited by the Mitochondrial Team at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation in Pittsburgh to meet with researchers and share her medical information to help further the research in the field of Mitochondrial Disease. Elyse’s mom, Amanda, has accepted the challenge that comes with a rare diagnosis, believing that anything is possible for Elyse, refusing to be limited by the lack of information available for her condition. Amanda, with a Master’s degree in Education and 15 years’ experience as an elementary school teacher, became a certified Home Health Aide to serve as a paid caregiver for her daughter. Amanda’s role as Home Health Aide has allowed her the opportunity to actively participate in all of Elyse’s therapies and doctors’ appointments, support Elyse in classes during preschool, and now in Middlesex Elementary School in Cumberland Valley School District to make sure she receives the therapies, services, and inclusion that she needs in order to continue to make progress and thrive. Elyse uses a picture card system as her main mode of communication, and receives physical therapy, occupational therapy, vision, hearing, speech and music therapies. She walks with adult assistance or with a gait trainer, and uses an adaptive trike to travel longer distances around school and the community. She has enjoyed playing adaptive field hockey, too, using one of her gait trainers and adaptive field hockey sticks. Elyse loves music of all kinds, and usually can be seen with headphones, enjoying her music as she accompanies her parents to her brothers’ sports events. Amanda is a great advocate for her daughter, and she appreciates the input and support that Mary Olley, Elks Nurse for Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry Counties, has been able to offer over the past 5 years.

PDF's Available in Members Only -> Helpful Resources -> Hoop Shoot 8-9 Champions Nora Faught representing Clearfield Lodge #540 of the North Central District 1st Place Alexa Arrigonie representing Latrobe Lodge #907 of the West Central District 2nd Place Farrah Himes representing York Lodge #213 of the South Central District 3rd Place Grayson Smith representing Tamaqua Lodge #592 of the Northeast District 1st Place Kolston Eisentrout representing Latrobe Lodge #907 of the West Central District 2nd Place Ashton Miller representing Meyersdale Lodge #1951 of the Southwest District 3rd Place 10-11 Champions Maria Koval representing Erie Lodge #67 of the Northwest District 1st Place Arabella Seibert representing Meyersdale Lodge #1951 of the Southwest District 2nd Place Emma Brogan representing Pittsburgh / South Hills Lodge #2213 of the West District 3rd Place Tanner Calarco representing Bloomsburg Lodge #436 of the Northeast District 1st Place Kellan Hyldahl representing Meadville Lodge #219 of the Northwest District 2nd Place Brody Cortazzo representing Indiana Lodge #931 of the West Central District 3rd Place 12-13 Champions Channing Miller representing Leechburg Lodge #377 of the West Central District 1st Place Aryana McCleary representing Huntingdon Lodge #976 of the North Central District 2nd Place Rebekah Sedora representing York Lodge #213 of the South Central District 3rd Place Lucas Kielbiowski representing Latrobe Lodge #907 of the West Central District 1st Place Cameron Smith representing Mahanoy City Lodge #695 of the Northeast District 2nd Place Carter Barrett representing Franklin Lodge #110 of the Northwest District 3rd Place Highest Scorer Girls Nora Faught - Girls 8-9 Clearfield Lodge #540 - 22 Points Channing Miller - Girls 12-13 Leechburg Lodge #377 - 22 Points Highest Scorer Boys Grayson Smith - Boys 8-9 Tamaqua Lodge #592 - 23 Points 2024 District Finals Emile J. Brady State Team Award West Central – 106 Score Anthony Shae, Director 2024 PA Hoop Shoot Finals Event Images