Mission Viejo, CA (April 25, 2010) – On a perfect sunny blue sky Southern California day, Rachel’s Challenge “Links of Character” event, held by the City of Mission Viejo, was supported by the Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge #2444 (“Elks Lodge”). The Elks Lodge provided parking for event participants with. Some Elk members joined the many students and their parents in carrying the paper chain from the Elks Lodge parking lot onto the Oso Creek Trail, terminating at the Mission Viejo Norman P. Murray Senior Center, approximately 2.5 miles.
The multi-colored paper chain was a combined effort of OfficeMax and Mission Viejo Community of Character. Each paper chain link included a hand written message. Some messages were generic character oriented messages, “It’s Good to be Nice; Be Polite; Be Courteous”. Other messages were from individual students, “I helped a friend who is disabled, walk down the stairs; I shared my home and took my Aunt to Disneyland, I helped my brother with his homework.”
Exalted Ruler Pat Martino said, “The Elks are proud to support an event dedicated to the memory of an outstanding youth, Rachel Joy Scott. We are all grateful that the parents of Rachel, other Scott family members and volunteers have created Rachel’s Challenge, a powerful organization dedicated to the prevention of teen violence. Rachel’s challenge is now added to the Elk Lodge’s numerous programs dedicated to our nation’s youth; such as, scholarships, scouting, dictionary program, drug awareness, hoop shoot and other youth programs.”
The public is invited to attend the Elks Lodge annual “Youth Appreciation Night” being held on May 4, 2010 at 7:00 PM. The Elk’s Lodge is located at 255092 Marguerite Parkway (Marguerite and La Paz), Mission Viejo.
The Mission Viejo / Saddleback Elks Lodge #2444 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 142 year history of giving, “Elks Care, Elks Share.”
Submitted by;
Hal Mattson
Lodge publicity
