Stephanie Bongartz, fourth from left; Parents of Pediatric Oncology Parents – Kay Devine to the left of Stephanie and Karen Jones to the right of Stephanie.
(L to r): Valarie and Tom Lemm of Huntington Beach (Elks Orange Coast District Grand Exalted Ruler); Betty and Harvey Boelts (Elks Orange Coast District Esquire).
Photos by Lorene Tierney
Elks Lodge Raises over $7,000 for Pediatric Oncology Patients
On Saturday, October 29, 2011, Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444 (“Elks Lodge”) hosted a “Silent Auction” event to raise funds for Orange County Foundation for Oncology Children and Families (“OCF-OCF”). Over one hundred thirty (130) people attended the Masquerade Ball.
Dancing to the Music of Alter Ego were a Viking Opera Singer, 1920’s Flapper, Monk, Chicken and other assorted fantasy characters. The band joined in the fun masquerading as Zorro, Phantom of the Opera, Green Lantern, a Pirate, Warrior Princess and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.
Donated gift baskets and raffle items were fantastic and included: An Original Wyland Lithograph, Dyson Vacuum Cleaner, Bellemode Crystal Tea Gift Set, various pieces of jewelry, a baby basket, Marilyn Monroe memorabilia basket, autographed St. Louis Cardinal Baseball and many more items. The dinner was hosted (donated) by Outback Steakhouse of Laguna Hills.
Event organizer and Elks Lodge member Stephanie Bongartz said, “Words cannot describe the gratitude that I feel for all the generous volunteers and those individuals and businesses that donated items for this event. The donations mean we can raise even more money to support the pediatric oncology patients and their parents.”
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(L to r): Steve Rusie, Drug Awareness Chairman; 13 year-old Samantha Savage holding her $25 gift certificate and Elks Lodge President Gloria LeCouvre.
ELKS LODGE BOOTH AT MISSION VIEJO’S 24TH DRUG AWARENESS RED RIBBON WALK
Members of Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444 (“Elks Lodge”) sponsored a booth at Mission Viejo’s Annual Drug Awareness Red Ribbon Walk. Over 1,500 parents and children walked from Mission Viejo High School down La Paz to the large grassy area next to the Norman P. Murray Community Center.
At the Elks Lodge booth, Lodge members distributed Drug Awareness pamphlets, American Flags and Red Ribbons to the children and their parents. At the booth, the children participated in a true/false written quiz, receiving a ticket for a drawing every 15 minutes for the five $25 gift certificates donated by Big 5 Sporting Goods.
Steve Rusie, Elks Lodge Drug Awareness Chairman said, “It was very encouraging to support so many children, their parents and other local community groups standing up against illegal drugs.”
The Mission Viejo / Saddleback Elks Lodge No. 2444, celebrating forty one (41) years of service to the Saddleback Valley communities, is one of ten lodges in the Orange Coast District of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) whose headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois. The BPOE is a charitable organization with a 143 year history of giving, “Elks Care, Elks Share.”
