Pubdate: Tue, 02 Mar 2004 Source: Alameda Times-Star, The (CA) Copyright: 2004 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers Contact: http://www.timesstar.com/Stories/0,1413,125%257E1524%257E,00.html Website: http://www.timesstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/731 Author: Michelle Meyers Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) ELKS GIVE BUCKS TO LOCAL PROGRAMS Thousands Given To Boys Clubs, Girls Clubs In Hayward, San Leandro 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 last week 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 earlier this month 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 received the honor of calling leaders of each of the recipient groups. "They were elated," he said. The lodge is giving $9,000 to the Hayward and San Leandro Boys and Girls Clubs; $2,500 to the San Leandro and Hayward police DARE programs; and $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 direct to club operations. 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom