Rally Secretary Joyce Claussen Receives $10,000 Donation from MV Elks Lodge Run-A-Ways Wagon Master Fred Gabel
The Run-A-Ways campers of Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444 (“MV Elks Lodge”) joined over 300 other Elks campers from Southern California to raise over $40,000 for handicapped children, eclipsing last year’s total by almost $10,000.
MV Elks Lodge Receives State Recognition (l to r): MV Elks Lodge President Jason Spence (Rancho Santa Margarita), State President Dick McDonald and MV Elks Lodge Past President Pat Martino (Mission Viejo)
The 45th Annual RV Rally for the kids was again held at the Golden Village Palms RV Resort in Hemet. The generosity of Elk members in one hundred sixty (160) RVs along with others staying in nearby hotels made this year’s event one of the best ever. Southern California Elks Lodge members set up handicrafts booths, conducted raffles and enjoyed a variety of games, food and entertainment. The MV Elks Lodge Run-A-Ways were prominent in the fund-raising effort with a donation of $10,000, which was raised from game booths and Lodge member donations. A large part of the donation was from a cruise auction conducted by the Elks Lodge.
The MV Elks Lodge contingent was lead by Run-A-Ways Wagon Master Fred Gabel (Lake Forest) and wife Annette. Of the event, Fred Gabel said, “As a first time Wagon Master, I was amazed that this year’s donations generated a more than 30% increase in charitable giving when compared to last year. This means more handicapped children will be served by the Elks so they have an increased opportunity to walk, talk, see and play.”
The Mission Viejo / Saddleback Elks Lodge No. 2444, celebrating forty-three (43) 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 145 year history of giving, “Elks Care, Elks Share.”
Andy Costello, Lodge Publicity
Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444
Photos by Andy Costello (Laguna Hills)
