Midday with the Elks National Foundation

The ENF Board of Trustees just approved a massive $39.1 million budget for FY2021, and there's something new in it for every program. Jim and Debbie break it all down for you. Plus, Debbie benefits from some public therapy, and we hear from participants on last month's Elks Scholar Service Trip to San Diego. Tune in today!

Jim and Debbie head to the Colorado Elks Association's winter quarterly in Colorado Springs for the first Midday Road Show! Guests include a couple of independent filmmakers, the director of family programs for the Colorado National Guard, a member of the BackBoard, and a slew of Elks working hard to build stronger communities. Tune in today!

What started out as a single thank-you note blossomed into 14 sweet, sincere expressions of gratitude. It's a holiday miracle! Don't miss a Midday episode that some are calling a modern holiday classic.

Doug Wise of the Grants department visits the show to announce the Impact Grant projects that will receive renewal funding for next year. Tune in today to hear how these amazing Lodges are building stronger communities.

In a very special episode of the Midday podcast, Jim and Debbie dive into an epidemic on college campuses. Along the way, they rail on the college-admissions scandal and celebrate ENF Month. Listen today!

School is back in session, so Makenna Cannon joins Jim and Debbie to talk about how lessons learned through the Hoop Shoot can lead to better performance in the classroom. The episode features three classic Griteos, with lively discussion of each one. Tune in today!

Procrastination. Parasites. The World Wide Web. Join Jim, Debbie, and the ENF's new Scholarship Manager for a wide-ranging conversation in the latest episode of Midday!

In episode 57, which is not sponsored by Heinz, we catch up. Join Jim and Debbie as they chat about all the things going on at the office.

This episode was recorded before a live studio audience in the Ferrara Theater at the America's Convention Center Complex during the Elks National Convention in St. Louis. It features a host of guests, including Rick Gathen, Mary Morgan, the top MVS winners, and more! 

It's our convention preview episode! Kate Edsey, our meeting planner, visits the show to talk all about the upcoming reunion. 

Everyone is talking about Game of Thrones, and so are we (if inadvertently). Plus Jim and Debbie recap the Leadership Weekend and Hoop Shoot National Finals.

In a brisk episode, Jim and Debbie introduce the top 20 Most Valuable Students and then share some of the storylines for this year's Hoop Shoot National Finals. This one will get you pumped for the two big April events. 

Jim and Debbie interview Nicole, a veteran who was on "the fast track to destruction" prior to getting help from the V.A. and the Elks. Plus CIPsters Colleen Conrad and Chelsea Dennis drop by to talk about the new Spotlight Grant. 

Just back from the Service Trip to Biloxi, Elks Scholar Fellow John Kavula joins Jim and Debbie on the big show. Episode 51 also features interviews with Rose, a veteran who avoided homelessness thanks to emergency assistance from the Elks, and Fischer Brown, a three-time Hoop Shoot National Finalist. 

While Jim attends his daughter's Christmas pageant, his little Elves handle Midday ... and turn in one of the pod's all-time best episodes. Debbie and sidekick's sidekick Mary Morgan interview Phil, a veteran, husband and step-father to two who staved off homelessness thanks to emergency assistance from the Elks. Elks Scholar Fellow Brianna Bueltmann also joins the pod. Listen today!

Colleen Conrad joins Jim and Debbie to reveal the winning Impact Grant Lodges for 2019. The announcement was made on this episode, four days before the news will be shared online.

Debbie has spent a lot of the time in the field lately. In this episode, she tells us all about her recent trips to Albuquerque for the National Scholarship Providers Association's annual conference and to Oshkosh (with a side trip to Milwaukee) for an Impact Grant site visit. Plus, Jim gives an insider's look at Elks headquarters' annual Halloween party. Tune in today!

Mary Morgan pulls double-duty in this episode about the Elks' pledge to eliminate veteran homelessness, serving as sidekick in Debbie's absence and also as the guest. She gives a riveting update on our progress to date. Plus, there's an interview with fourth-place Most Valuable Student Natalie MacEwan, and Jim impersonates Sean Connery. Poorly. 

Colleen Muszynski joins Jim and Debbie for a back-to-school episode about the Community Investments Program.

The scholarships department joins Jim and Debbie for a behind-the-scenes look at the largest gathering of Elks scholars ever, the epic 150 for 150 Service and Celebration Weekend in San Antonio. 

Billy Donnelly and Maryann Dernlan join Jim and Debbie to give you an insider's look at the Hoop Shoot Finals and Leadership Weekend. Plus, we remember friend of the show Jim "J.D." Dorris.

It's March, and our programs are firing on all cylinders. We talk a bit about the Hoop Shoot and play an interview with the Barnhart family of West Virginia, but this episode stars Maryann Dernlan and the Elks Scholar Service Trips. Total backstab! Actually, it stars Jenna Johnson. Enjoy!

In an episode expertly side-kicked by Kate Edsey, Jim and Debbie interview Drug Awareness Speaker Ray Lozano about life on the speaking tour.

We welcome back Mary Morgan to talk all about veterans and the Welcome Home effort to end veteran homelessness.

In the landmark 40th episode, we interview Jenna and the CIPsters, newly returned from their epic barnstorming tour through the Carolinas. Also, Jim turns 50. 

The reclusive Colleen Muszynski joins Jim and Debbie to talk all about the Foundation's little known and underappreciated Community Investments Program. The episode also features interviews with members and grant partners of Hopkins, Minn., Lodge.

This special episode recorded before a live studio audience at the Elks National Convention in Reno features the CIP Volunteer of the Year and a whopping 11 scholars, plus one remarkable mother. Check it out!

Jim and Debbie help you get your sweat on as they talk Scholar Service Trips with Jenna Johnson and preview the Reno Convention with Kate Edsey. 

The versatile Mary Morgan dons two hats for this timely episode about serving veterans in need. 

Jim and Debbie recap April's two-headed beast: the Leadership Weekend and Hoop Shoot.

There's something not quite right about this episode, but never mind that. The show is filled with great Hoop Shoot stuff as Billy Donnelly joins Jim and Debbie to preview the upcoming Finals.

The multi-talented Maryann Slater returns to the show to preview the Leadership Weekend, recap the Dallas service trip, talk about homelessness, and sing an original song. Jim, meanwhile, overbids at an auction. 

Colleen Muszynski joins Jim and Debbie for a final push to the 2017 grant season. Lots of great grant ideas in this episode.

Jim and Debbie are visited by three guests in this special holiday episode. They talk Most Valuable Student program changes, tell tales from this year's Road to Chicago for the Hoop Shoot Finals, and look forward to future Scholar Service Trips. Plus, there's caroling.

Colleen Muszynski and Mary Morgan fight to the death for the right to be called the Best Friend of the Show. Also, they talk with Jim and Debbie about the new class of Impact Grant recipients and ending veteran homelessness.

Jim and Debbie handle this one alone. They peek in on the recent Board meeting, catch us up on a couple of work trips, and break down the latest films in the #TrueGritTuesdays series.

School is back in session, and we've got Elks Scholar Fellow Jenna Johnson on the big show to talk all about our scholar engagement efforts.

It's grants season! Colleen Muszynski joins Jim and Debbie to talk all about the Community Investments Program.

Jim and Debbie podcast live from Houston in this special convention episode. Guests include the top two Most Valuable Students and the CIP Volunteer of the Year.

Jim, Debbie and guest Kate Edsey preview the upcoming Elks convention in Houston.

Jim and Debbie tell us why Midday skipped April, then they reflect on the Hoop Shoot Finals with Billy Donnelly and the Leadership Weekend with Maryann Slater in this instant classic episode.

Jim and Debbie check in with Billy Donnelly, who has been marching down the road to the Hoop Shoot finals for the first time. Then they catch up with Maryann Slater, recently returned from the Spring Scholar Service Trip, and look forward to next month's Leadership Weekend.

Recently returned from the annual budget meeting in Albuquerque, Jim and Debbie share highlights from the trip -- including a surprise for Jim -- and look forward to the coming year.

We celebrate our coming-of-age episode with Maryann Slater, who is recently returned from the second Elks Scholar Service Trip to the Bay Area. We also hear from another formerly homeless veteran.

Would-be Best Friend of the Show Colleen Muszynski and her minion Jocelyn Moya join Jim and Debbie to discuss using Lodge grants to address veteran homelessness. We hear from two more formerly homeless vets. And there's caroling. It's an episode worthy of a landmark birthday!

Friend of the Show Mary Morgan, the director of the Elks National Veterans Service Commission, joins Jim and Debbie to talk about the Elks' commitment to help the Veterans Administration eliminate the scourge of homelessness. The episode features an interview with Rickey, a formerly homeless veteran.

Jim and Debbie discuss the 2016 Impact Grants with Colleen Muszynski.

Jim, Debbie and Wendi Dweyer, the new Communications Manager at the Elks National Foundation, discuss GRIT and how it relates to the Hoop Shoot.

Jim and Debbie recap the first ever Elks Scholar Service Trip with Anne Stretz and Maryann Slater. 

Elks National Foundation Jim and Debbie speak with Frederick Mensch and Kate Keating Edsey live from the Elks National Convention in Indianopolis.  

Elks National Foundation Jim and Debbie speak with Maryann Slater, Ron Hicks and Jeff Mitchell live from the Elks National Convention in Indianopolis.