Key Takeaways
- Mitch Hanlon, a respected Southern California music educator and conductor, continues his legacy of service through the Elks National Foundation (ENF).
- The Elks National Foundation, founded in 1928, has distributed over $500 million to charitable projects nationwide.
- With more than 124,000 active donors and an $851 million endowment, the ENF funds scholarships, veteran support, and community initiatives.
- Scholarship programs include the Most Valuable Student awards ($3M annually) and Legacy Awards ($1.6M for children and grandchildren of Elks members).
- ENF initiatives also support youth drug awareness programs, veteran services, and local lodge community investment projects.
- A board of seven trustees, all past Elks national presidents, oversees the foundation’s operations from Chicago.