Pubdate: Mon, 01 Mar 2004
Source: Tri-Valley Herald (CA)
Copyright: 2004 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.trivalleyherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/742
Author: Michelle Meyers

ELKS GIVE BUCKS TO LOCAL YOUTH PROGRAMS

These days, amid ongoing budget slashings, local youth program leaders
such as Lance Frederick aren't used to getting phone calls from people
saying they want to send a check.

But Frederick was grateful for the surprising news that the Drug Abuse
Resistance Education (DARE) program he runs in Hayward would be getting
a $2,500 donation from San Leandro-Hayward Elks Lodge No. 2795.

The nonprofit Elks group voted in February to distribute some $25,000
worth of bingo proceeds to local youth programs.

"This year we said 'Let's go for the kids,'" said Hayward resident
Richard Kelly, the lodge's public relations chairman.

Kelly got the honor of calling up leaders of each of the recipient
groups. "They were elated," he said.

The lodge is giving $9,000 to both the Hayward and San Leandro Boys
and Girls Clubs; $2,500 to both the San Leandro and Hayward police
DARE programs and a total of $2,000 to Boy Scouts of America for
activities in both cities.

For the DARE programs, the donation will help provide supplies that
have been scaled back lately such as workbooks and T-shirts, according
to program leaders from both cities.

Kip Lewis, director of operations for the Boys and Girls Club of
Hayward, said the donation probably will go directly to club
operations. Due to budget constraints, the club recently had to cut
back hours.

"We're keeping our heads above water," Lewis said, adding that there's
more competition for grants, and regular donors have been unable to
give. "So the $9,000 was a godsend."

For the Boy Scouts, the $2,000 donation will help send about 10 kids
to summer camp or buy about 100 field books, said Aaron Bedell,
finance director of the San Leandro headquarters for Boy Scouts in
Alameda and San Francisco counties. He, too, said it's rare these days
to get surprise donations. "It was like an Easter egg," he said.

Kelly said the lodge has given out the money annually to different
charities as part of its community services program. But this year, in
light of the economy, Elks members decided to focus on youth.

The lodge no longer hosts bingo, because about nine months ago it sold
its building near Chabot College in Hayward. The lodge has had trouble
finding another building and is considering merging with the Fremont
Elks Lodge, Kelly said. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake