About / Mission
The Michigan Elks Association Charitable Grant Fund Scholarship Commission, also known as the “Gold Key Scholarship Fund”, was established by the Board of Trustees of the Michigan Elks Association to provide a post secondary education scholarship for special needs students to be funded through individual donor contributions. For the purpose of this scholarship “Special Needs” is a student that is physically challenged, currently eligible for special education services under the Federal guidelines or as may be approved by the Gold Key Commission of the Michigan Elks Association. The scholarship, which is $2000.00 a year, which maybe renewable for up to 3 additional years, is intended to aid those qualifying applicants (graduating seniors) who could not other wise do so, to continue their education or training past high school at either an accredited college, university or a licensed trade or vocational school to help them become self-respecting, self-reliant, and self-supporting members of society.
Fast Facts
The Michigan Elks Charitable Grant Fund awards $50,000 in scholarships each year to special needs young adults to further their education and become active members of todays society!
Apply for Gold Key Grant
The Michigan Elks Association Charitable Grant Fund Scholarship Commission is incorporated in the State of Michigan as a non-profit corporation.
Each year, the scholarship application window for new applicants begins on October 1st and closes on December 1st of that year.
Scholarship reapplications open each year on November 1st and close December 1.
Gold Key Commissioners
Join the Michigan Elks Charitable Grant Fund Donor Program.
All donations and contributions to the fund are deductible for Federal Income and Estate Tax purposes in the manner and to the extent provided by law under section 501c(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.Name: Chuck Pankey-Fanning - Secretary
Cell: 248.854.1626
E-mail: goldkeyme@mielks.org
Location: Ferndale Lodge #1588
Term Ends: May 2030
Name: Eric Patmythes - Chaplain
Cell: 618-208-0518
E-mail: goldkeyup@mielks.org
Location: Escanaba Lodge #354
Term Ends: May 2026
Name: Jay Erickson - Treasurer / (Melissa)
Home: 313.805.3794
Cell: 810.599.6856
E-mail: goldkeyse@mielks.org
Location: Plymouth/Ann Arbor #325
Term Ends: May 2027
Name: Dave Scott - Sgt at Arms / (LuAnn)
Cell: 269.340.2799
E-mail: goldkeysw@mielks.org
Location: Dowagiac Lodge #889
Term Ends: May 2028
Name: Ami Edmonds - Vice Chairman / (T.J.)
Cell: 989-820-1299
E-mail: goldkeyne@mielks.org
Location: Tawas Area Lodge #2525
Term Ends: May 2029
Name: Joan Rowland - Chairman / (Jim)
Cell: 231.632.7711
E-mail: goldkeynw@mielks.org
Location: Traverse City Lodge #323
Term Ends: May 2025
Executive Director:
Geno Grabinski / (Jani)
Plymouth-Ann Arbor Lodge #325
C: 248.417.6362
E: goldkey@mielks.org
Co-Executive Director
Michael HD Bowman
Tawas Area Lodge #2525
C: 810-560-1249
E: sp@mielks.org
PSP Advisor:
Stan Chubinski / Cheryl
Battle Creek Lodge #131
C: 269-420-4516
E: chubinskipsp@mielks.org
Chairman
Joan Rowland (Jim)
Cell: 231.632.7711
E-mail: goldkeynw@mielks.org
Traverse City Lodge #323
Term Ends: May 2025
Vice Chairman
Diana Armstrong
Cell: 248.496.9670
E-mail: goldkeyme@mielks.org
Pontiac-Waterford Lodge #810
Term Ends: May 2024
Secretary
Michael Ilmonen (Irene)
Cell: 906-360-0825
E-mail: goldkeyup@mielks.org
Negaunee Lodge #1116
Term Ends: May 2026
Treasurer
Jay Erickson (Melissa)
Home: 313.805.3794
Cell: 810.599.6856
E-mail: goldkeyse@mielks.org
Plymouth/Ann Arbor #325
Term Ends: May 2027
Sgt at Arms
Dave Scott (LuAnn)
Cell: 269.340.2799
E-mail: goldkeysw@mielks.org
Dowagiac Lodge #889
Term Ends: May 2028
Chaplain
Ami Edmonds (J.T.)
Cell: 989-820-1299
E-mail: goldkeyne@mielks.org
Tawas Area Lodge #2525
Term Ends: May 2029
| District | Date | Golf Course |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast Franz Brenner | 4/21/24 | Wesburn Golf Course |
| Southwest District | 6/10/24 | Spruce Ridge |
| Upper Peninsula | 7/19/24 | Gentz G.C. |
| Metro | 8/10/24 | Port Huron Elks Lodge |
| Northwest | 9/7/24 | Grand Rapids |
| Northeast | TBD |
2024 Winners
Kaiden Tachick - UP
Kassie Munday - UP
Layal Engel - UP
Vance Arent - Southwest
Lane Pearson - Southeast
Noah Wauldron - Southeast
Trevor Hendrick - Southeast
Robert George - Metro
Brady Shell - Northeast
Wyatt Viacius – Northwest
Renewals for 2024
Laura Bracket – UP
Kylie Johnson – UP
Olivia Accord – UP
Nora Clement – UP
Aria Meyers – UP
Lauren Mahoney – Northwest
Briana Chaffee – Northwest
Kaleb Herrera – Northwest
Natalie Sika – Northeast
Brian Jablonski – Metro
Amelia Richter – Metro
Shelby Axline – Southwest
Jami Worden – Southwest
Grace Antos – Southwest
Connor Sarles – Southeast
Cooper Eggleston – Southeast
Laura Shields – UP
Dakota Smith – Southeast
Jaime Gomez – Southeast
Karar Aljle – Southeast
Allison Lauri – Southwest
Mikayla Dougherty – Northeast
Theressa Barrett – Northeast
Alyssa Masiewicz – Northwest
Dalton Keener - Metro
Wesley Condie, Northeast
Paige Heron, Northeast
Jared Mills, Northwest
Cameron Vasher, Southeast
Dylan Neelis, Southwest
Robbie Ivey, UP
Carlson Zackary, UP
Nickolas Haferon, UP