The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) is an American fraternal order founded in 1868, originally as a social club in New York City. An Elks Lodge is the building where a local chapter meets. The Elks organization is a membership order of men and women with nearly a million members and a 150-year history. The Elks are a fraternal order with nearly 2,000 lodges in communities all over the country. The organizations mission is "To inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity; to recognize a belief in God; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its Members; to quicken the spirit of American patriotism; to cultivate good fellowship; to perpetuate itself as a fraternal organization, and to provide for its government". The Elks invest in their communities through programs that help children grow up healthy and drug-free, meet the needs of today’s veterans, and improve the quality of life for their members and the community. The Elks National Foundation is an agency of the Grand Lodge for the furtherance of the charitable, educational, patriotic, and benevolent activities of the Order.