tebt

 TENNESSEE ELKS BENEVOLENT TRUST  Sponsored by TENNESSEE ELKS

The TEBT - How It Works
The Tennessee Elks Benevolent Trust is a nonprofit Tennessee Corporation governed by comprehensive By-Laws which provide for a President, Vice President, Secretary, Pledge Secretary, Board of Directors, and several Committees to administer its programs and business affairs. Elks from Tennessee Lodges fill all positions on a voluntary basis. Equal representation is achieved through Board and Committee quotas for each of Tennessee's three Elks Districts. The TEBT, as Elks most commonly call it, is a subsidiary of its parent corporation, The Tennessee Elks Association (TEA), of which all Tennessee Elks are members. The voting and participation rights of Tennessee Elks are the same for the TEA and TEBT. The TEBT hold midyear and annual meetings in addition to committee and special meetings as the need arises.

A distinctive feature of the TEBT is the provision for a permanent Financial Corpus. All contributions to the TEBT are forever held in trust and all of the investment earnings of the Trust are, in turn, used to carry out the TEBT major project - a nursing scholarship program. Consequently, every contribution serves as a renewable to student nurses in Tennessee.

History - Growth in Giving
The nursing scholarship program was selected as the major project of TEA in 1956, as a means to relieve a critical shortage of nurses in Tennessee. Over the years, a review clearly shows the need to continue a nurse's scholarship program.
After the first year, four $600 awards were increased to $700 in 1968. Two years later, the number of scholarships and the value were increased to twenty-five $900 awards and in 1978 to $1,000. In 1988 the awards grew to $1,200 with a provision for an automatic 2nd year renewal, if the recipient maintained a "B" average during the first year. In 1993, automatic renewals were increased to three years. Currently, the awards are for $2000.00 per year including renewals.

The Program - How It Works
TEBT scholarship application forms are distributed to the Tennessee Elk Lodges in early October, and they in turn, distribute the forms to High School guidance counselors, colleges, and hospitals within the jurisdiction of each Lodge. If an applicant is unable to get an application, please contact the Scholarship Chairman or the Secretary of the nearest Elks Lodge. Applications must be submitted to the Lodge as directed, usually in January. After judging, winners are notified in April or May. In managing the scholarship, the award is paid directly to the student's school of choice. The student then may draw against an account for allowable expenses such as tuition, books, lab fees and dormitory expenses.

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must be a high school senior, the graduate of an accredited high school, the holdei of a G.E.D certificate, or attending an accredited school of nursing in Tennessee. Judging is based on scholastic achievement; desire and interest in nursing as a profession, volunteer service, and motivation; and financial need. For additional details, please see the instructions on the application.

MEMORIALS - A LIVING TRIBUTE TO A LOVED ONE
A memorial gift to the Tennessee Elks Benevolent Trust becomes an eternal tribute to the beloved memory of a relative, friend or associate, Elk or non-Elk.
Your gift will aid a deserving student to prepare for a career in nursing. This service is like a candle of hope that enlightens the darkness. Every memorial gift will achieve benevolent deeds and it is tax deductible.
To light an everlasting candle to the memory of a loved one, complete a Memorial/Honor Contribution form, a certificate will acknowledge your gift to whom you designate. The amount will be held in confidence, and you will receive an acknowledgement.

BEQUESTS
To those who wish all or part of their estate to be left for perpetual benevolence, the Tennessee Elks Benevolent Trust is ideal. It is suggested that a member of the legal profession aid in making such a provision in one's will. This form of bequest is recommenced: "I give and bequeath the sum of to the Tennessee Elks Benevolent Trust, a corporation duly established and-- existing under the laws of the State of Tennessee."

Click here for the Nursing Scholarship Application and Details.