TEXAS STATE CHARITIES

Something came to my mind when the news of President George H. W. Bush passed away.I remember that during his inauguration speech, he mentioned the “Thousand Points of Light”.He was referring to those individuals and organizations who served their communities through acts of charity.As he was mentioning those individuals and organizations, President Bush mentioned the Knights of Columbus.In fact the Knights were the third name on the list.That blends in perfectly with our State Deputy’s slogan, “Let you Light Shine”.

State Charities provide funds for the Bishop’s programs, funds for infirmed Priests through the Knights Of Columbus License Plate, Special Olympics, Cardinal Medeiros Trust Fund, Educational Grants,Catholic School Grants, Emergency Relief, and the Wheelchair Program.Seventy per cent of the funds that is sent to State Charities go directly to the Bishop.The remaining thirty per cent is allocated to the other programs.Anything over the Diocesan goal goes directly to the Bishop.

I hope that all of our Brother Knights in our State avoids an event where their home, Parish, or family experiences a loss due to a flood, hurricane, tornado, fire, or anything.But, if it happens our Emergency Relief Team and Texas State Charities are ready to help.The monetary fund for assistance comes from the donations from the Councils through their Council participation to Texas State Charities.To insure that there are sufficient funds for assistance, every member, every Council needs to contribute to Texas State Charities.For those Councils who participate every year to State Charities, the State Charity Team thanks you for your dedication.For those Councils who don’t participate to a 100% level, we ask you to make 2018-2019 the year that you join the rest of the Councils and get to the maximum level of support.

To date, we are at around 72% of our goal $997,600.Out of the 718 active Councils in the State 417 have already met or exceeded their goal or 58% of the active Councils, 199 Councils, or 28% have contributed $0.Eleven Councils have purchased 1 pin and 1 Council purchased 3 pins.Out of 206 Districts, 10 have participated nothing toward State Charities. The point is, my Brother Knights, we will not succeed without everyone participating.Those who are standing with a single string in your hand, drop your string and grab the cable so we are all on the same team.”. I would like to especially recognize Council 3217 of Dickinson.They made their goal early even though their community was devastated by hurricane Harvey last year.

David Keating (281-650-5503) heads up the fundraising team.Tony Scarpa (832-457-5150) is the fundraising committeeman for Galveston/Houston and Laredo.Joe Hernandez (830-832-6050) will have San Antonio, Brownsville, and Victoria.Bill Kennedy (903-694-5105) will be calling on Fort Worth, Dallas, Tyler, and Beaumont.Gregory Thompson (has San Angelo, Corpus Christi, and Austin.And, PSD Leo Hanus (214-732-2901) will be calling on Amarillo, Lubbock, and El Paso. Be sure to use the Charity pins.The $20 donation for a pin goes directly toward your Council charity goal.Just be sure to send in the pin donation slip to the State office so your Council can be credited for the donation.The donation form can be found on the Texas web-site, tkofc.org, if you can’t find the donation slip, just the name and Council number on a piece of paper will do. Send the donation form and pin money to the State office.

Recently I witnessed some comments on C-Span during the confirmation hearings for two judges and the Attorney General.All three were Knights of Columbus.They were chastised for being a member and was even asked by one Senator “if he would consider giving up his membership in such a radical and controversial group.”If you are as proud to be a Catholic, and you are as proud as I for being a member of the Knights of Columbus, why not show your pride with a Texas Knights of Columbus license plate.Joe Govea (817-703-8408) can assist you on KC License Plates and the Cardinal Medeiros Trust Fund.The license plate will cost an extra $30 to your existing fee.However, $22.00 goes to infirmed Priests so the cost to you is an extra $8.00 because the $22.00 is tax deductible. The Cardinal Medeiros Trust helps fund the Educational and Catholic School grants.You can honor your Priest or a member of your Council with a $1,000.00 contribution.

Texas has been fortunate to have had Special Olympic Chairmen.All of our Chairmen have a passion for Special Olympics.Carlos Ortiz (817-239-1314) is our Current Chairman.There are several Special Olympic events coming up.The schedule is being revised so we will publish the new schedule when we get it.We are planning a one-of-a-kind pin to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Special Olympics in Texas that will be available at the Mid-Year Meeting.Every Council should submit Form 4584 that shows a Council’s support of Special Olympics.Supreme will donate up to $9,000 to the jurisdictions, based on the information on the form.Twenty-five cents per member of every dollar a Council submits to State Charities can be placed in Section IV, Line 1 of Form 4584.We are developing a special 50^th anniversary pin for the next year.Be on the look-out for the special pins.

Giacomo Leone (512-983-7576) can assist you with the Educational Grant.We had to revise the Application Form, so be sure that you use the most current application.The complete instructions are available on the application.The application can be found on the State web-site under State forms.All of the Diocesan Deputies have been sent the new form.A $1,000 grantwill be awarded at the State Convention so it’s important to submit the application on the March 1 deadline.

Texas is very involved in the Wheel Chair program.This is headed by Bill Weber (214-405-8023).Contact Bill at yankeesweb@tx.rr.com for a donation form.A chair can be donated, in your name, for $150.Also, small and large containers are available for $16,500 for 110 chairs and $42,000 for 280.The link for the Wheel Chair donation form is http://www.tkofc.org/downloads/v/wheelchair-mission-donation-form

The Emergency Relief Team is headed by Harry Storey (214-557-2923).The State is broken down into five areas.Ben Oani (214-478-9116) covers Fort Worth, Dallas, and Tyler.Mike Buecher (210-710-1457) has San Antonio, Laredo, Corpus Christi, and Brownsville.Austin, Victoria, Galveston/Houston, and Beaumont are coved by Larry Pellerito (281-224-3728).Robert Leal (806-781-9875) is over Amarillo and Lubbock.El Paso and San Angelo will be covered by Harry Storey.Our hope is that this group has nothing to do all year, but if they are needed to assist in any emergency that will help our brother Knights and their families, the men is ready and trained to help.We have been in contact with the Diocesan Coordinators in Central Texas to see if any Brothers are in need of assistance from the floods.

Every Council is constantly being asked to raise money for projects in the Parish, community, and schools.No doubt, we always come through.We have all learned the lesson of the cable.We are stronger if we band together and support our brother Knights and their families in times of need.Please consider participating in the State Charities program.

2018-19 Bishops’ Fund Ministry Designations

AmarilloBishop ZurekPriest & Seminarian spirituality training

AustinBishop VasquezVocations fund & Emergency fund for Priests

BeaumontBishop GuilloryInfirm & Retired Priest fund

BrownsvilleBishop FloresDeaf & Disabled ministries

Corpus ChristiBishop MulveyARK Emergency Shelter for Youth

DallasBishop BurnslDeaf & Disabled ministries

El PasoBishop SeitzVocations fund

Fort WorthBishop OlsonDeaf ministry & Vocations fund

Galveston-HoustonCardinal DiNardoCatholic schools fund

LaredoBishop TamayoEvangelization outreach & Seminarian support

LubbockBishop CoerverVocations & Seminarian support

San AngeloBishop SisPro-life, Seminarian and lay leadership development

San AntonioArchbishop Garcia-SillerDeaf ministry

TylerBishop StricklandSeminarian support

VictoriaBishop CahillPriest & lay leadership education & evangelization