Februrary 2023
Oglesby Elks Lodge recently made a $70,000 donation to assist Lighted Way Children’s Developmental Center in La Salle with its new facility opening in August. Under their theme, “Elks Care, Elks Share,” the Lodge No. 2360 gift will help pay for a special outdoor playground at Lighted Way’s new home at 1445 Chartres St., La Salle. In an emotional ceremony at the lodge at 800 E. Walnut St., Ken Ficek, Elks Past Exalted Ruler, grant coordinator and Children’s Care Committee member, said, “In our 57 years of existence we cannot recall another event of this importance.” Lighted Way Executive Director Jessica Kreiser and Jim and Amy Bolelli, parents’ of a former Lighted Way student, also spoke. The Bolelli’s daughter Gabby graduated from Lighted Way in May and passed away at age 22 in October. A piece in the new playground will be named the “Gabby Go Round.” A contribution to the Elks from the estate of Anita Copeland of Peru “was instrumental in our being able to make this donation,” Ficek said. Copeland died in April 2018 at age 91. Ficek credited attorney Jim McPhedrin and Hometown National Bank’s Philip Slevin, Tammy Humpage and Peter Corgiat (retired) for helping facilitate the Copeland bequest. Ficek lauded the work currently being done for 47 students at Lighted Way. “If you visit Lighted Way you will see very special people working with children who need help. When we heard they purchased the former nursing home on Chartres Street – Airport Road to us old-timers – we asked how can we help?” The gift covers the entire cost of the playground’s flooring. “Elk members feel our donation fulfills Anita Copeland’s wishes that her funds be used to assist children, especially those with Special Needs,” Ficek said. Ficek was joined by Elks Exalted Ruler Lisa Fultz, in-coming Exalted Ruler and Children’s Care Committee member Sam Sankovic, and former Treasurer and Children’s Care Committee member Paul Danekas. “Elks invest in their communities through grant programs that help children grow up healthy and drug-free, meet the needs of today's veterans, support the local Food Pantry, local schools, fire departments, ‘Shop with a Cop’ programs, Horizon House, PADS Homeless Shelter, and improve the quality of life where they recognize the need,” Ficek said.
Donation:$70,000
September 2022
Dusty Shan, 2nd from the left, representing the Oglesby Fire Department, points out the Thermal Imaging Camera that the Department wishes to purchase to the Oglesby Elks Board. The Elks donated $1,000 from an Elks Illinois Elks Association supplemental grant to help pay for the camera. Elks Board from includes Trustees Lee Thompson and Paul Danekas, Leading Knight Sam Sankovic, Secretary Pam Coffey and Grant Coordinator Ken Ficek. Elks Care and Elks Share.
Grant:$1000
September 2022
Dr. Rose Marie Lynch, 2nd from the left, President of the Illinois Valley Food Pantry, explains to the Oglesby Elks Board the Pantry’s details of the Pantry’s “Feed our Children” lunch program. The Elks donated $2,000 from an Elks National Foundation (ENF) Spotlight Grant to help provide for over 400 lunches. Elks Board includes Trustees Lee Thompson and Paul Danekas, Leading Knight Sam Sankovic, Secretary Pam Coffey and Grant Coordinator Ken Ficek. Elks Care and Elks Share.
Grant:$2000
November 2021
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) of the Illinois Valley, Oglesby Lodge #2360 recently distributed $8,000 in Grant funds to area needy causes. The funds were made available from the Elks National Foundation (ENF), the Illinois Elks Association (IEA), and the Oglesby Elks Lodge. $3,500 to Horizon House to help defray nursing costs for increased testing due the pandemic.
grant:$3500
November 2021
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) of the Illinois Valley, Oglesby Lodge #2360 recently distributed $8,000 in Grant funds to area needy causes. The funds were made available from the Elks National Foundation (ENF), the Illinois Elks Association (IEA), and the Oglesby Elks Lodge. $1,000 to the Oglesby Public Schools to provide clothing and other necessities for the “Students in Need’ initiative.
grant:$1000
November 2021
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) of the Illinois Valley, Oglesby Lodge #2360 recently distributed $8,000 in Grant funds to area needy causes. The funds were made available from the Elks National Foundation (ENF), the Illinois Elks Association (IEA), and the Oglesby Elks Lodge. $750 in gifts cards to the IV PADS homeless shelter for use by their clients to purchase meds and other needed supplies.
grant:$1000
November 2021
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) of the Illinois Valley, Oglesby Lodge #2360 recently distributed $8,000 in Grant funds to area needy causes. The funds were made available from the Elks National Foundation (ENF), the Illinois Elks Association (IEA), and the Oglesby Elks Lodge. $2,000 to the Illinois Valley Food Pantry to help pay for a new delivery van.
Grant:$2000
November 2021
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) of the Illinois Valley, Oglesby Lodge #2360 recently distributed $8,000 in Grant funds to area needy causes. The funds were made available from the Elks National Foundation (ENF), the Illinois Elks Association (IEA), and the Oglesby Elks Lodge. $750 to the Oglesby Public Library for the purchase of automatic rest room soap and towel dispensers for improved public safety.
Grant:$750
October 2020
A Plexiglas shield was purchased and installed on the circulation desk of the Oglesby Illinois Public Library with the financial aid of the Oglesby Elks Lodge #2360. A $500 grant was made available from the Elks National Foundation (ENF) and donated to the library to help in the control of the virus. Shown separated by the shield are from left Oglesby Lodge Exalted Ruler Lee Thompson, Grant Coordinator Ken Ficek and on the other side of the shield, Library Executive Director Jill Shevokas and Library Board President Rich Vollmer.
Grant:$500
October 2020
School Principal Jyll Jasiek shows off the Plexiglas desk shields that will be installed on the teacher’s desks in the classrooms in Oglesby Holy Family Catholic School, to Oglesby Illinois Elks Lodge #2360 Grant Coordinator Ken Ficek and Lodge Exalted Ruler Lee Thompson. A $1,500 grant was made available from the Elks National Foundation (ENF) to purchase the shields. ENF offered these funds to help with the problems created by the virus.
grant:$1500
October 2020
Oglesby Washington Jr. High purchased a disinfecting sprayer/mister with the help of a $1,500 Beacon Grant made available from the Elks National Foundation through Oglesby Illinois Elks Lodge #2360. Shown inspecting the sprayer a from left to right are Principal Merritt Burns, Custodian Greg Hybki, Elks Exalted Ruler Lee Thompson, and Lodge Grant Coordinator and PER Ken Ficek. The sprayer is being used to help disinfect areas of the school and help protect against the spread of the Covid 19 virus.
Grant:$1500
August 2020
Oglesby Elks provided lunch to the City of Oglesby workers for their tireless efforts as well as quick restoration to power and fast street clean up from the derecho storm that hit Oglesby earlier in August.
donation:$
June 2020
Oglesby Elks Lodge 2360 has come through to support the needs of the Illinois Valley Food Pantry. After they removed their protective masks, Lee Thompson (left) exalted ruler and Ken Ficek, lodge grant coordinator, are shown presenting a check for $2,000 to Mary Jo Credi, food pantry executive director. The Spotlight Grant was made available from the Elks National Foundation to help fund the pantry’s summer “meals for children of needy families” and will purchase approximately 200 lunch and breakfast meal packages. The Lodge had earlier in the year provided an ENF Gratitude Grant for $1,000 to help with regular expenses of the pantry.
Grant:$2000
June 2020
Caro Alcorn, PADS Executive Director took Oglesby Elks #2360 Trustee Shawn West and Ken Ficek, Exalted Ruler and Lodge Grant Coordinator, on a tour of the new 5,000 sq ft addition to the local homeless shelter. They are shown inspecting the new beds that were purchased through local donations. The Elks Lodge helped sponsor a bed by using an Illinois Elks Association, IEA, $1,000 grant and also provided a $500 gift pharmacy certificate from an ENF Gratitude Grant to be used for client's medications.