Knights of Columbus In Service to All

The Knights of Columbus help through serving
November 14, 2005
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Established in 1882 by Father Michael J. McGivney, the Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men's fraternal benefit society that was formed to render financial aid to members and their families.

In 2004 Knights donated more than $135 million to the support of charitable causes. Since 2003, Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson has led the Knights involvement in the sponsorship of thousands of wheelchairs to Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Mexico and the Philippines. Knights have been very involved in the hands on distribution of wheelchairs, and are living the theme of "United in Charity" through their gift of mobility.

In 2005 Knights from California joined forces with Knights from Northern Mexico to deliver 560 wheelchairs in the cities of Tijuana, Mexicali, Ensenada and Rosarito. California State Wheelchair Coordinator Don Gentleman kicked off the project in the state after he participated in a mission to Guatemala in 2002, and 2005-06 State Deputy Gary Nelson has initiated a wheelchair program designed to send hundreds more wheelchairs to the Mexico City area and combine it with a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe for all of the California and Mexico participants working together to help the less fortunate.

"Our lives have been forever changed by this experience," said Gary Nelson after participating in the wheelchair distributions in Mexico, "and we are going to do much more."

The Wheelchair Foundation thanks Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson and all of the Knights in California that are leading by wonderful example of how people who dedicate their lives to helping others can have a substantial impact on the lives of so many.

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