Six councils recognized for charitable works
Contact: Joseph Cullen, Knights of Columbus, 203-800-4923
ORLANDO, Aug. 7, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- Local Knights of Columbus councils were honored with international service awards for outstanding achievements during an awards ceremony at the Knights' 132nd annual international convention.
"The international awards presented at our supreme convention honor the year's most exemplary service projects at the council level," said Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. "The work of each award winner helps underscore the great good that can be done when faith brings men together in the service of God and neighbor."
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Coquitlam Council 5540 in Coquitlam, British Columbia, coordinated the interior renovation of a 24-hour adoration chapel at its parish center, earning the Knights' award in church activities. In addition to providing a new altar, stained-glass image of the Divine Mercy, and a relic of St. Faustina, the council included a wooden cross made from a piece of the altar on which St. John Paul II celebrated Mass in British Columbia in 1984.
Marysville Council 5534 in Marysville, Ohio, which raised over $31,000 to support an amputee veteran softball team, was honored with the community activities award. The council collaborated with local businesses and individuals to rally support for the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Project, exemplifying the Knights' characteristic virtues of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism.
When brother Knight Jeff Robocker was killed in an automobile accident, his fellow Knights from Marquette Council 815 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, sprang into action to ensure that his pregnant wife and five children would be well-cared for. The council raised funds and renovated the family home. For its efforts in helping the Robockers rebuild their lives, Marquette Council was honored with the award for council activities.
St. Joseph Council 12405 in San Mateo, Rizal, Luzon, received the award for culture of life activities. Wishing to extend medical services to financially unstable pregnant women, the council offered free ultrasounds, meals, and spiritual assistance to 79 women, including 23 teenagers.
The members of Tillamook Council 2171 in Tillamook, Oregon, took the Knights' Food for Families program to a new level by planting a council garden that provides fresh produce for the area food bank. The council produced a bumper crop last fall and donated over 15,000 pounds of produce, for which it was honored with the award for family activities.
In recognition of efforts made on behalf of youth, the Knights honored Roanoke Council 562 in Roanoke, Virginia, with the award for youth activities for organizing a "Hunger is Not a Game" project to provide after-school snacks and clothing for homeless and low-income students The council collected and delivered clothing and over 6,000 packages of food and drink to local students.
The Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by Father Michael McGivney, a parish priest in New Haven, Connecticut. With charity as its central commitment, the organization has grown to 1.8 million members worldwide. During the past year, Knights donated more than $170 million and more than 70.5 million hours of service to charitable causes.
