Steele Research Center

Steele Research Center

Steele Research Center at the University of Arizona

Since 1992

Since the Arizona Elks adopted the Steele Center in 1992 as a "major project," members in lodges around the state have contributed more than $4 million. On the sixth floor of the Steele Center research tower, three laboratories were underwritten by the Arizona Elks, and a charter wall lists the specific lodges and individuals who participated in that effort.

Watch this short video for a brief description on how the Arizona Elks Major Projects impacts the Steele Reserach Center

Highlights of Elks-supported projects through the years:

Arizona Elks Laboratories for Transplantation Research Amount raised: $275k One of the first projects the Elks undertook was supporting the building of two research labs on the sixth floor of the Steele Center. These labs house researchers who specialize in gastroenterology and nutrition.

Seed Research Awards: Amount raised: $1.2M / Seed grants allow investigators to “prime the pump” with preliminary data, which will make their research projects more attractive to State and Federal funding agencies.

Education: Amount raised: $50k / Educational fund assisted with developing the first Pediatric Integrative Medicine Conference, and supported the “Morning for Children’s Health” workshops for parents.

Arizona Elks Clinic for Children and Young Adults: Amount raised: $390k / In 2001, the Arizona Elks celebrated the grand re-opening of the newly named “Arizona Elks Clinic for Children and Young Adults,” housed on the third floor of UMC. The renovated clinic now includes separate waiting areas for sick children and well children, and more efficient space for doctors, nurses and staff.

Core Support: Amount raised: $255k / Core support funds were used for needed facilities improvements throughout the Steele Center. Funds helped repair existing equipment and purchase new equipment, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines—used in DNA cloning for sequencing, DNA-based phylogeny..

Marvin Lewis Pediatric Teaching Center Amount raised: $130k / Marvin Lewis was a past Grand Exalted Ruler and was passionate about education and helping children. Funds were used to renovate the pediatric residency offices and create a conference room within the residency office. Upon completion of the offices, the space was named the “Marvin Lewis Pediatric Teaching Center.”

Arizona Elks Endowed Chair in Neonatology Research Amount raised: $1.8M / (Goal: $2M) In 2003, the Arizona Elks committed to creating the “Arizona Elks Endowed Chair in Neonatology Research.” An endowed chair generates income that lasts forever. Every year, a portion of the interest is available to the Chair to support his research and provide seed funding to promising young investigators interested in neonatal research.

Toys, Blankets, Beanies and Booties Amount raised: Priceless / There is simply no price that can be assigned to the hundreds of blankets, beanies and booties that have been knitted by the Elks for the premature babies at UMC. Or the thousands of donated toys that have brought a smile to a sick child’s face. We are immensely grateful for these priceless gifts from the Arizona Elks lodges throughout Arizona!