An advertising campaign launched this week by the Washington Elks, the venerable national fraternal and community service organization founded in 1868, seeks to increase membership by focusing attention on the Elks’ charitable program to provide at-home physical therapy at no cost to special-needs children statewide.

With more than 25,000 members in 40 lodges across the state – including the Elks Lodge in Auburn – the Elks have a ready membership of men and women who contribute each year to support the Washington Elks Therapy Program for Children. However, like many social and civic organizations, membership has declined in recent years.

“The ad campaign will let people across Washington know that we not only have a terrific time and make wonderful friends as Elks, we are also doing great things for kids and for our communities,” said Jill Rosenblum, immediate past president of the Washington Elks Association (and one of the first female Elks state presidents in the nation). “By increasing our membership, we will be able to focus even more resources on the therapy program as well as provide additional volunteers and contributions to countless other good causes supported by Elks lodges in local communities.”

The statewide mobile therapy program, which began in 1954, is the only one of its kind in Washington. Therapists travel to homes to provide occupational and physical therapy at no charge to children and young adults from birth through age 21 who have developmental delays or physical disabilities, Priority is given to those who are medically fragile and unable to afford care.

In 2008, the $1.2 million nonprofit therapy program served more than 400 children in communities in every corner of the state; about 75 percent of those families are uninsured or under insured and could not afford to receive therapy on their own.

“Without the men and women of the Elks, I don’t know what we or any of the other families they help would do,” said Lisa LeVasseur of Edmonds, mother of 5-year-old Charlie, who has cerebral palsy and has benefited from the therapy program since he was six months old. “I want to see the Elks grow so other special needs children like Charlie who have limited coverage through their insurance companies and social service agencies can know the joy we felt when the Elks said ‘Yes, we’ll be glad to help you.’”

The $175,000 “Thank you, Elks” advertising campaign debuted in July and will continue through September on the radio, in print and on highway and ferry billboards. To learn more about the Elks, go to www.discoverelks.com or call 1-877-544-ELKS.