To inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity; to recognize a belief in God; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its Members; to quicken the spirit of American patriotism; to cultivate good fellowship; to perpetuate itself as a fraternal organization, and to provide for its government, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America will serve the people and communities through benevolent programs, demonstrating that Elks Care and Elks Share.

• The Elks are committed to America's Promise, an alliance of organizations building a better future for our youth. The Elks have promised to sponsor drug-free proms in 2,000 communities by the year 2000; develop after-school programs at 1,000 Elks Lodges; develop mentoring relationships with at least 10 at-risk kids in each local Lodge community; and engage 275,000 young people as partners in our community service programs.



 



• The Elks "Hoop Shoot"® free-throw program is the largest coeducational sports program in the country. More that three million kids participated in this year's contest.



 



• The Elks Drug Awareness Program prints and distributes, free of charge, up-to-date information about drugs to school-children, their teachers, and their parents. Since the program's inception in 1983, the Elks have distributed more than 200 million pieces of literature.



 



• In addition to information about drugs, the Elks provide alternatives to drug use by sponsoring activities ranging from Little League to Scouting. More than 6 million kids participated in these Elk-sponsored activities last year.