Aniar Academy Dancers with Elks State Vice President Harvey Boelts, Past State President Art Echternact and District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler David Skelton
From its sold-out St. Patrick’s Day Dinner/Dance, Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444 (“Elks Lodge”) netted $2,500 for the Elks National Foundation which provides funds for youth scholarships and community projects in the Saddleback Valley and throughout the United States and $350 for the California-Hawaii handicapped children fund.
The event was co-chaired by Ray and Ann Mallen of Laguna Hills, both Elk members, assisted by twenty-five (25) other Elks Lodge volunteers. Guests enjoyed a buffet style authentic Irish dinner and world-class Irish music and dancing.
The Whooligans
Guests were entertained by and danced to the music of the Whooligans. The Whooligans are a well-known Irish pub band. Guests applauded and danced to the Whooligans music frequently singing along with the Irish songs.
There was a spectacular exhibition of world-class Irish dancing by members of the Aniar Academy of Irish Dance, Laguna Niguel, to whom the Elks Lodge donated $200.
Dance members included: Alessia Brown, Kennon Compton, Sheyenne Egense, Christian Egense, Katie Flores, Colleen Moore, Clare Murphy and Bridget Sagert. Event co-chair Ann Mallen, originally from County Cork Ireland, was a champion Irish dancer.
The Mission Viejo / Saddleback Elks Lodge No. 2444, celebrating forty-four (44) 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 146 year history of giving, “Elks Care, Elks Share.”
Hal Mattson, Lodge Publicity
Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444
