Oregon State Elks Association

Elks Children's Eye Clinic -60 Years of Making a Difference

The Elks Children's Eye Clinic is the major charitable project of the Oregon State Elks Association. The clinic would not be possible without the Oregon State Elks Association commitment to providing eye care for babies and children. The Elks became involved with the University of Oregon Medical School (now Oregon Health & Science University) in 1949. That year, Dr. Kenneth Swan needed a piece of equipment called an oximeter for a baby whose father was an Oregon Elk. The Oregon Elks promptly raised $2000 for the oximeter. Soon after, the Elks' continued generosity established the Elks Children's Eye Clinic.

The Betty Hise Trust for Cancer Research is a non-profit organization created as a program for Oregon and Idaho ladies and Elks to promote and generate ongoing funds for the research and treatment of cancer. All funds raised go directly to the Betty Hise Trust for Cancer Research. The money is held in trust and is invested. The goal is to raise enough money to donate larger and larger sums to the research effort.

The larger the trust fund grows, the greater the interest earned. This interest is then contributed annually to Northwest cancer researchers. Our current recipients are:

• Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU)

• Idaho's Mountain States Tumor Institute (MSTI).

No funds are used for administrative costs. Cancer is a complex and devastating disease, and finding the cause and cure is elusive. Research is the KEY to ending this dreaded disease. With your help, support and contributions, we enable Northwest researchers to move forward toward this goal.

You've heard about the 'ENF' - What is it? It is Elks National Foundation, founded in 1928 with a mere $100,000.

Over the years, more than $183.6 million in donations and bequests have been received. We now have over $370 million in our endowment fund and have contributed over $300 million to charitable projects nationwide.

How does it help Oregon? In 2008-2009, Oregon received back from Elks National Foundation, $1.753 for every $1.00 that was contributed from Oregon members. UPDATE: 2009-2010, OREGON RECEIVED 1.95 BACK FOR EACH DOLLAR.  THANK YOU !!!!!

Oregon State Elks Association Trust

The primary duty of the Board of Directors of the Trust is to further the charitable and educational activities of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America and the Elks National Foundation.

The Board of Directors is comprised of the five most senior duly elected Trustees of the Oregon State Elks Association. The President is the chief operating officer of the Trust and has general management of its business, properties and affairs.

The Board of Directors is charged with receiving funds from the Elks National Foundation, the Elks Youth Eye Services, members of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and other sources for the purpose of benefiting the charitable and educational projects of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Oregon State Elks Association.

These funds are distributed to organizations qualifying as exempt organizations under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and for general charitable, scientific and educational purposes.