Archive for February, 2011
The most important principle upheld by the Knights of Columbus is charity. In the 2009 fraternal year, the Order gave more than $151 million directly to charity and performed over 69 million hours of volunteer service. The Order has been instrumental in helping those in need, regardless of their faith. For instance, the Knights of Columbus donated 1,000 wheelchairs in April 2010 to the people of Haiti. A $1 million initiative was also launched to provide prosthetic limbs for the children of Haiti.
Over the past three decades the Order has donated over $382 million to charities supporting the mentally and physically disabled, particularly the Special Olympics. As members of the Order, my father and grandfather have put in a lot of man hours volunteering at Special Olympics events. It gives them a sense of pride to contribute to the betterment of their community. They wear their Knights of Columbus rings wherever they go, as a subtle way of advertising the good deeds of the Order, and to remind themselves of their commitment to charity.