People and Programs Making A Difference
Elks Care. Elks Share.
The mission of the Elks is to help build stronger communities. We fulfill this pledge by investing in communities where Elks live and work. We help youth develop lifelong skills, send students to college, meet the needs of today's veterans, and help fund projects that improve the quality of life in our local community.
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Purple Pig
Started in 1950, the Purple Pig “Piggy Bank” program succeeds in providing funds for over 60,000 children each year. Donations to the Purple Pig program provide for annual grants that screens preschool children for vision deficiencies and fund direct medical care for eligible kids. The Purple Pig Program also helps provide undergraduate University and vocational school scholarships to students with disabilities.
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Scholarships
With over 2000 Lodges in the United States, the Elks offer many no-cost programs that can be utilized by schools and communities to provide better education and more opportunities to enrich the lives of students.
Each year, the Elks award almost $3 million in college scholarships to 500 seniors nationwide through it’s Most Valuable Student Program. Any high school senior who is a U.S. citizen is eligible to apply. In addition, 482 $4,000 scholarships are also awarded.
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Heart At Home
The Walnut Creek Elks Veterans To Homes program helps formerly homeless Contra Costa County Veterans get settled into new housing. Utilizing funds from Elks National Foundation Grants and donated furniture, cookware and other household goods, our local Elks members are helping to make Vets feel right at home. Being able to provide and deliver these items to the Vets that have served our country is a true honor.
To donate goods and services to the Veterans To Homes program please contact Mark Steinberg.
Hoop Shoot
Since it’s origin in 1946, the Elks Hoop Shoot has grown to include more than three million participants annually, making it one of the largest co-educational sports programs in the country. The Elks Hoop Shoot is a nationwide free throw contest that teaches kids some of life’s most valuable lessons through sport.
53rd Annual Walnut Creek Elks Hoop Shoot
Sunday, Dec 8, 2024!
Practice, perseverance, discipline and hard-work are all on display as local lodges work in cooperation with Elementary and middle schools to host this annual free competition. and girls in three age groups, 8 to 9, 10 to 12 and 12 to 13 begin skills competitions in the fall and conclude with the national finals in April. The Walnut Creek Elks Lodge is proud to have produced regional and national finalists!
The 53rd annual Walnut Creek Elks Hoop Shoot Free Throw Contest will take place Sunday, December 8, 2024, from 8:30 to 10:45 a.m. hosted once again at De La Salle High School, 1130 Winton Drive in Concord.
Boys and Girls ages 8 through 13 are invited to participate. (Contestant's age group will be determined by their age AS OF APRIL 01, 2024).
Certificates and prizes will be awarded to all participants and beautiful trophies will be awarded to the top three finishers of each boy and girl category. Age group champions will have the right to represent our lodge area in the Elk's District, California, Regional and National championship events beginning next January. (We have had 33 California state champions representing our lodge since 1986!).
FREE TO THE PUBLIC! There is no cost! This is a “Drop-In” event. Just show up and register at the gym between 8:15-10:45a.m. and shoot 25 free throws! Bring your brothers, sisters, friends and teammates. It will be a great, fun experience!
For more information, contact:
Coach MIKE RITTENHOUSE, Director
925-360-2900
coach_ritt@yahoo.com
National Foundation
The Elks National Foundation is the charitable arm of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. It’s mission is to support Elks Lodges in their effort to strengthen their local communities. This is done through investing in communities where Elks live and work, Providing tomorrow’s leaders with lifelong skills, meeting the needs of today’s veterans, and funding lodge projects. Through the Elks National Foundation's Community Investments Program, Lodges can apply for grants to serve their communities, meeting local needs.
