MVSV ELKS SUPPORT LOCAL SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS THROUGH THE SADDLEBACK COLLEGE FOUNDATION

The Mission Viejo/Saddleback Valley Elks recently provided a $1,200 donation to the Saddleback College Foundation’s OASIS special needs students program. Lane Keran, Lecturing Knight, proudly presented the donation on behalf of the MVSV Elks Lodge #2444. The lodge donation will provide 75 special needs students the opportunity to participate in a community based bowling program: helping students to develop independence, participate actively in their local community, practice supervised mobility skills, build social skills, maintain and/or develop their physical fitness, and collaborate with leagues, such as Special Olympics. On hand to receive the donation was Stacy Eldred, the OASIS Coordinator, AEWD Associate Faculty at Saddleback Adult Education who thanked the Elks and said, “For many students in the OASIS program, community engagement is sorely lacking and not readily available in their given living environment and as a result their ability to independently participate within the community is compromised.” Also on hand was Karima Feldhus, Vice President of Saddleback College Community Education, Emeritus Institute, and Partnerships. Karima said “I join Stacy in thanking you and the Elks members for the generous donation to our OASIS students. It was heartwarming to see the joy on the faces of our students.” The OASIS special needs students truly cherish this tremendous opportunity, and the MVSV Elks are proud to support an incredibly inspiring community program. Together as one, Elks Care, Elks Share!

Photo – Lane Keran Lecturing Knight MVSV Elks, and Stacy Eldred, OASIS Coordinator, AEWD Associate Faculty at Saddleback Adult Education