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ENF Announces Drug Awareness Promise Grants
Chicago, Ill: In an ongoing effort to support the Elks Drug
Awareness Program in preventing youth substance abuse, the ENF has announced
that the 2005 Promise Grants Program will begin in November. The program
encourages Lodges to sponsor positive and healthy activities that engage the
youth in their community.
"Elks are great believers in the youth of our country," says Drug
Awareness Director Kent Gade. "We are hard workers who love our children,
and we need to show it by keeping them off of drugs and alcohol."
Promise Grants are awaarded to the first 250 Elks Lodges that pledge to hold
events free of drugs, alcohol, and violence. Examples include, but are not
limited to, After-Prom parties, graduation parties, teen dances, pool parties,
youth lockins, back-to-school events or Red Ribbon celebrations.
"Alcohol and drug use isn't what it used to be," says Gade. "It's
the number one youth health issue. As a leading fraternal organization we
have to step up."
Through assistance from the ENF-funded Elks Drug Awareness Program, the Lodges
will receive reimbursement for expenses of up to $200. To be eligible for
reimbursement, Lodges must hold the youth events between April 1 and November
30, 2005.
"Battling youth substance abuse is one of the most difficult challenges
facing Lodge communities," says John Traynor, ENF Chairman of the Board of
Trustees. "By funding programs like the Promise Grants, the
Foundation empowers local Lodges with the resources to confront this
problem."
By providing young adults with a safe environment where they have positive
interaction with peers and caring adults, the events will have a lasting effect
on the entire community. According to the US Department of Education,
children who attend after-school programs have better grades and conduct in
school; more academic and enrichment opportunities; better peer relations and
emotional adjustment; and lower incidences of drug-use, violence and pregnancy.
Lodges can help promote a drug-free lifestyle in their community by completing
the Promise Grants pledge forms that will be mailed to Lodge Drug Awarness
Program chairs in November. Starting November1, pledge forms will also be
available online at www.elks.org/enf/promisegrants.cfm.
The Elks National Foundation must receive completed pledge forms no later than
March 31, 2005.
For more inforation, contact Eliza Lazar, Elks National Foundation, 2750 N.
Lakeview Ave., Chicago, Il 60614, elizal@elks.org,
773/755-4864.