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The Order
 The
Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by a 29-year-old parish priest, Father
Michael J. McGivney, in the basement of St. Mary's Church in New Haven,
Connecticut.
These men were bound together by the ideal of Christopher Columbus, the
discoverer of the Americas, the one whose hand brought Christianity to the New
World. They sought strength in solidarity, and security through unity of
purpose and devotion to a holy cause
–
they vowed to be defenders of their country, their families and their faith.
Still true to its founding principles of charity, unity, and fraternity more
than 125 years later, the Knights of Columbus has grown to the largest lay
Catholic organization in the world.
 The
Order has been called “the strong right arm of the Church,” and has been praised
by popes, presidents and other world leaders, for support of the Church,
programs of evangelization and Catholic education, civic involvement and aid to
those in need.
Father McGivney’s founding vision for the Order also included a life insurance
program to provide for the widows and orphans of deceased Members. The Order’s
insurance program has expanded substantially to serve more effectively the
Knights’ growing Membership.
 Thanks
to the inspired work of Father McGivney – as well as that of millions of other
Knights over the past century – the Knights of Columbus now stands at its
pinnacle of Membership, benefits and service. Currently, there are over 1.75
million Knights of Columbus – more than ever before in the Order's history.
Together with their families, the Knights are nearly 6 million strong. In
addition, from the first local Council in New Haven, the Order has grown to more
than 14,000 Councils in the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico,
Poland, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin
Islands, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan. Each year, the Order continues this strong
growth.
The Supreme Council is the governing body of the Knights of Columbus and is
responsible for the development of the organization as a whole. Supreme Council
duties include establishing the Order in new regions and setting up regional
authorities, defining and advancing its values and goals, undertaking
organization-wide initiatives, promoting awareness of the Knights’ mission
worldwide, and protecting the families of Members through its extensive
insurance program. Members working in local, or subordinate Councils, however,
carry on the majority of the Knights’ beneficial work.
VOLUNTEER SERVICE AND INSURANCE
Throughout its history, the Knights of Columbus has been an effective advocate
and defender of civil and religious rights for all. The organization has also
contributed billions of dollars and millions of hours of volunteer service to
charity. As the Order has grown, its benevolence has increased.
United in
Charity, a general, unrestricted endowment fund, was introduced at the 2004
Supreme Council Meeting to support and ensure the overall long-term charitable
and philanthropic goals of the Order. The fund is wholly managed, maintained
and operated by Knights of Columbus Charities, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable
organization.
The Order continues to break all of its previous records for charitable
contributions and volunteer service. Cumulative figures show that during the
past decade, the Knights of Columbus has donated nearly $1.28 billion to
charity, and provided in excess of 612 million hours of volunteer service in
support of charitable causes.
Knights of
Columbus insurance has been “Making a Difference for Life” for more than 120
years,
and has evolved into
a leading
insurance organization
for Knights, by Knights.
Today the Order
offers a modern, professional insurance operation with more than $70 billion of
life insurance policies in force as of 2009.
Year after year, the Knights of Columbus has earned the highest possible quality
ratings for financial soundness from A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. The Order
provides the highest quality insurance, annuity and long-term care products to
its Members, along with many other fraternal benefits.
The Order is
certified by the Insurance Marketplace Standards Association for ethical sales
practices.
Church Support
 Supporting
the Catholic Church has been a hallmark of the Knights of Columbus since its
founding in 1882. From funding the first restoration in over 350 years of the
facade of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome to operating an usher ministry at a local
parish, the Knights of Columbus serves the Church in countless ways. Annually,
the Order raises and distributes more than $45 million to Church groups in
support of programs at the local, national and international levels. Local
Knights and their families donate more than 25 million hours of volunteer time
to the Church each year.
Community of Involvement
 The
history of the Knights of Columbus's involvement in community life is a record
of outstanding benevolent achievement. Knights volunteer in a variety of
charitable enterprises to serve the people and programs of their communities.
Volunteerism informed by Christian concern is the hallmark of the Knights of
Columbus. It results in outstanding contributions of time and talent to the
Catholic Church, our communities, families, young people and brother Knights.
Much of the success of the Order's volunteer record can be attributed to the
fact that the Supreme Council does not mandate participation in any volunteer
initiative. Fraternal and charitable programs arise at the grassroots level to
meet the local needs.
CHARITY, UNITY, FRATERNITY AND PATRIOTISM
 Knights
of Columbus are Catholic gentlemen committed to the exemplification of charity,
unity, fraternity, patriotism, and defense of the priesthood. The Order is
consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Order is unequivocal in its loyalty
to the Pope, the Vicar of Christ on earth. It is firmly committed to the
protection of human life, from conception to natural death, and to the
preservation and defense of the family. It was on these bedrock principles that
the Order was founded over a century ago and remains true to them today.
If you want to
join this great organization of Catholic men, it is likely that there is a local
Council near you. There you will find brother Knights working to fulfill the
central mission of the Order – striving in charitable works; serving the Church
and unified in following its teachings; supporting brother Knights in their
temporal and spiritual needs; acting for the good of their country; and giving
aid to widows, orphans, the sick and the poor. This is Father McGivney's dream,
echoing across the century, and living today in the hearts of his brothers and
all of those they touch.
Vivat Jesus!
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