About the Knights of Columbus

HISTORY:
Organized in 1882 by Rev. Michael J. McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut, under the principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. Founded upon ideals inspired by the teachings of our Catholic faith. Proud heritage of service to Church, country and neighbor.

MEMBERSHIP:
Largest organization of Catholic men - more than 1.7 million members and their families who belong to over 11,000 local councils throughout the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Panama, Cuba, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas and Saipan.

CHURCH LOYALTY:
For over 126 years, the Knights of Columbus have been distinguished by forthright loyalty to the Holy See and to the hierarchy. Referring to this in a recent private audience, Pope John Paull II personally thanked the Order for "the respect and love which you have manifested toward me as successor of Peter."

FAMILY LIFE:
The Order supports and defends family life through programs of family prayer and family prticipation in the parish liturgy, promotion of Christian values in the home, "Family of the Month/Year Awards," days of family recreation, etc. Also supports family life by funding the North American campus of the Pope John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family.

COLUMBIAN SQUIRES:
Order's leadership training program molds young men 12 to 18 years old into influential and articulate Catholic citizens of tomorrow. More than 20,000 Squires belong to more than 1,100 council- or assembly- sponsored circles in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Bahamas.

CHARITABLE DISBURSEMENTS:
Donations to charity - for the needy, victims of disaster, homes for the aged, community projects, educational purposes, gifts of clothing and food - totaled over $111 million last year.

PRO-LIFE:
Conducting an Orderwide "Crusade for Life" campaign to bring an end to the legalized slaughter of the innocent unborn. Almost $9 million donated to bishops' pro-life education and public information campaign to date. Millions of pieces of pro-life literature printed and made available free of charge.

INSURANCE PROTECTIONS:
Over $37 billion worth of insurance in force. Wide variety of top-quality life insurance and annuity programs are available to members and their families.

EDUCATIONAL TRUST:
Million-dollar Educational Trust provides a four year college education at a Catholic college for children of members who are killed or permanently and totally disabled (a) from a cause directly connected with a military conflict or (b) as a result of criminal violence in the performance of their duties as full-time law-enforcement officers or firemen.

STUDENT LOANS/SCHOLARSHIPS/FELLOWSHIPS:
Over 55,000 low interest student loans, ($83 million) disbursed to Knights, their families, priests, brothers, sisters, seminarians and postulants since 1971. Members and families also eligible for the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Pro Deo and Pro Patria (U.S. and Canada), Mexico, Puerto Rico and Philippines undergraduate scholarships; the Bishop Greco and The Catholic University of America graduate fellowships.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Last year, Knights of Columbus officers, program directors, committeemen and members volunteered over 55 million hours in community service.

CATHOLIC INFORMATION SERVICE:
Since 1948 when the program began, the Catholic Information Service has provided free religious pamphlets to more than 8 million inquirers and has enrolled more than 750,000 persons in the Catholic Correspondence Course. And the mailbox is always open to those who need advice and can't bring themselves to ring a rectory doorbell.

VOCATIONS:
State and local council vocations committees foster vocations through prayer and other activities. Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP) has contributed nearly $18.6 million to thousands of seminarians and postulants. $8.25 million Vocations Scholarship Fund provides $2,500 scholarships to seminarians in theology.

FOURTH DEGREE:
Order's highest degree promoting patriotism and responsible citizenship through our Catholic heritage. More than 250,000 Knights belong to over 2,250 assemblies and are recognized by their colorful capes and chapeaux.

FRATERNAL BENEFITS:
Order provides member-spouse accidental death benefit to all members in good standing in insurance territories; family and orphan fraternal benefits to eligible member families.