The Florida Elks Children’s Hospital was conceived in 1931 by the imaginative minds of the late David Sholtz, Past Grand Exalted Ruler, and Harry R.P. Miller, a retired financier of Eustis, FL. Through the generosity of Harry and Anna Miller, the idea became reality, when their compassion and love for handicapped children led them to offer to the Florida State Elks Association, Inc., a three-story hotel and several orange groves in Umatilla, Florida.
The Elks accepted, and the Harry-Anna Home for crippled children was born. Even though the Florida Elks Children’s Hospital is closed the Harry-Anna Trust Fund continues to fund the two main charity projects of Florida Elks. The Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services and the Florida Elks Youth Camp.
A trust fund started in 1951, was named after Harry and Anna Miller. Its purpose was, and continues to be, the collection of donations and the acceptance of endowed gifts.
The trust fund is restricted, which means that only the income derived from it may be used to support our major projects: the Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services and Florida Elks Youth Camp programs.
The Trust receives $500k annually from Wills and Bequests; and another $750k annually from individual and Lodge donations. The Trust must gain about $6mm to provide additional income for one new Therapist or to treat 16 more children/week. That’s $375,000 per child. The Trust must gain about $10,000 to send one more child to summer camp.
Our Lodge supports this trust fund through donations collected with our annual dues, various fundraisers and our Annual Harry-Anna Valentine’s Ball. You may donate to our Lodge’s Harry-Anna fund here.
