2014 Elks Theme Child seven-year old Ethan Kempton
ELKS CONVENTION
May 19, 2014. The Mission Viejo, Saddleback Valley Elks officers joined the over one thousand Lodge presidents and officers from California and Hawaii attending the California/Hawaii Elks Association’s 99th annual State Convention in Palm Springs, California. In attendance was Elks National President (Grand Exalted Ruler) Millard C. Pickering a resident of Sapulpa, OK. President Pickering congratulated the Association’s Elks on their many successful charitable and patriotic accomplishments in the past year.
Members attended workshops and seminars as they planned for the coming year. The 2014 Theme Child seven-year old Ethan Kempton from Temecula was introduced to the members.
When Ethan was born, he suffered oxygen deprivation which caused numerous sensory and visual disorders including intermittent ocular misalignment and apraxia of speech.
He has improved greatly today thanks in large part to the Elks involvement in his therapy. That Elks charity took center stage as the Lodge Presidents walked across the convention platform to present their individual Lodge’s contribution for the year to the Elks Major Project for Handicapped Children. Mission Viejo, Saddleback Valley Lodge President Derek Randles proudly announced the sum of $27,250 in voluntary donations from the members and the various clubs within the the local Lodge.
When the “walk” concluded, a new Association record of contributions was achieved…a total of $3,234,413.53. The money donated is used to fund the Elk’s program of Physical, Occupational, Vision, Speech and Language therapy for thousands of needy children in California and Hawaii, all at no cost to the families.
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Mission Viejo, Saddleback Valley Lodge President Derek Randles greeting Elks National President Millard C. Pickering at the Elks “Walk” for the children
Lodge President Randles said of the program, “The Elks Major Project is one of the largest private, non-profit philanthropic projects in the nation, not a single dollar comes from federal or state funds.
Our Lodge members in the Saddleback Valley, along with members throughout the Association, gave from their hearts and this is a proud moment they share for what they have accomplished.”
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is a fraternal order with nearly a million members and a 144-year history, a network of more than 2000 lodges in communities all over the nation, a generous charitable foundation that each year gives millions in scholarships, an inspiration to youth, a friend to veterans and more.
Information regarding Elks Charities and Elks membership can be found at: http://www.elks.org
Andy Costello, Elks Publicity
