Exchange Club members with Jordan Spieth at the All Abilities Playground opening

The Exchange Club of Lake Highlands had to postpone their spring benefit concert featuring Jason Boland and the Stragglers due to COVID-19, but their board gathered via Zoom videoconference to do something almost as enjoyable – approve the money they’ll disburse to deserving nonprofits and Lake Highlands students.

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For the first time in 25 years, there’ll be no scholarship awards breakfast and presentation, but the ECLH will deliver $150,000 in college scholarships to hardworking students. Chairman Paul Elkjer and his committee will announce recipients soon. More than $2.3 million in scholarships has been awarded in the 60-year history of ECLH.

Box 4 Fire Buffs Association will receive $10,000 to help replace one of the customized vehicles it uses to support Dallas Fire and Rescue personnel. These vehicles, with refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers and bathroom on board, help volunteers provide rehabilitation services in the form of rehydrating drinks, snacks and meals on long-duration incidents. Portable chairs and awnings allow firefighters and paramedics to rest and get out of the elements, with misting fans in the summer and heaters in the winter. The new vehicle will replace a long-retired and modified ambulance.

The Exchange Club’s national project is prevention of child abuse, and ECLH has supported Family Compass since 1992. Family Compass reaches out to families with an elevated risk for child abuse and offers home mentoring and outreach programs. Recognizing that sheltering-in-place has increased the community’s need for their services while children are unable to go to school and adults in the home are unable to go to work, ECLH will present $10,000 to Family Compass – double their typical annual grant.

Congratulations to these recipients and to Exchange Club of Lake Highlands.

Dallas Fire-Rescue enjoy Box 4 Firebuffs services while on a break