2023 Hometown HEROES Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS May 2023 Page 13 One of the mottoes the organization uses is “People helping people.” My life is very much a small-scale representation of that idea. The work done by The Eagles, however, is much greater and has a much larger impact than a bunch of personal memories. The Fraternal Order of Eagles was founded in 1898. According to the Grand Aerie website the organization donates more than $10 million a year to local communities,fundraisers, and charities. The club also has eight charities of its own including kidney, heart, diabetes, cancer and spinal cord injury funds as well as the Jimmy Durante Children’s Fund, a memorial foundation and a Golden Eagle fund. The organization was instrumental in founding Mother’s Day. Many will give Anna Jarvis the credit, but it is documented that Eagles Past Worthy President Frank E. Hering made a public plea for a “national day to honor our mothers” on February 7th, 1904. In 1985 The Eagles became the first organization to top $1 million in donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In 2008 they committed $25 million to the University of Iowa to fund the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center which opened in 2014. Prominent members of the Eagles include Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, John F Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Bob Hope, Tony Stewart, Billy Ray Cyrus and Lee Greenwood. The Eagles Auxiliary boasts Bess Truman, Eleanor Roosevelt and Susan Wagner. The historical, social and charitable footprint of the Eagles on a national level cannot be denied. With such a large organization it can be easy to look past the work they do right in their local communities. I would like to take this opportunity to share with you a small sample of the work that Eagles members do in and around Lincoln. I would like to take this chance to shine a brief spotlight on a group of heroes I am proud to call brothers and sisters. For the fiscal year of 2022-2023 the Eagles Aerie sent $2,400 to the National Grand Aerie to be spread among the eight previously mentioned charities. Another $650 was sent to local charities, organizations and sports teams. These might include the D.A.R.E. program, The Logan County Humane Society, youth sports sponsorships and many more. Each week requests are received for donations of $25 or $50. These requests are presented to members and if it receives a favorable vote the funds are donated. It is rare a request is denied. The Veteran’s Benefit has become an annual event for the club. Shirley Buchanan has been the chairwoman of the event for over a decade. Tammy Elam, Angie Bramwell, Mike Buchanan, Guy Carter, Shari Carter, Jami May, Brett Bacon, Troy Singleton, Verl Prather and so many others have been a part of the event over the years. Over the last 13 years tens of thousands of dollars have been raised and distributed to veteran based charities in Continued --
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