Texas State Charities

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.

We had a great year, last year.We were able to make our goal and that was with only 68% of our active Councils making 100% and 34% of our Districts made 100%.Twenty per cent of the active Councils did not participate in State Charities, 19 Councils contributed $20 and 3 Councils purchased 2 Charity Pins for their participation.Eight Districts were $0 for the year and about half of these had only 1 Council in the District.The point is, the State could do much more for our Brother Knights and their families and Parishes if every Council would make their goal.Council 1473 in Wichita Falls, goes over and beyond their goal.In 2018-2019 they were able to raise $144,000 for the Fort Worth Diocesan Seminarians.That amount equals close to three million dollars the Council has raised for the Fort Worth Seminarians.

We had five Dioceses make 100% of their Diocesan goal.The Diocese of Tyler, Fort Worth, Victoria all were over 100%.Despite a last minute request from Special Olympics and a special request from Bishop Seitz, El Paso made their goal, and for the first time in 17 years, Galveston/Houston made their goal and is determined to make it two years in a row.Two Councils have already made their 2019-2020 goal, Regina Caeli Council 17225 and Dickinson Council 3217.Council 17225 is a brand new Council and Dickinson was devastated by Hurricane Harvey and still felt the importance of the Emergency Relief that State Charities when it comes to financial assistance.They showed us, early, they “We Got Your Back”!

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.

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.We are scheduling a meeting with the leadership of the Texas Special Olympics to get a solid schedule and exactly what they need the Knights to do for them.We will pass on the information as soon as we can. We have a one-of-a-kind pin to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Special Olympics in Texas that is. Be sure to submit Form 4584 to Chairman Carlos by December 31 so he can submit the information to Supreme for an additional $9,000 for Texas Special Olympics.This same information should be included on the Form 1728.

Giacomo Leone (512-983-7576) can assist you with the Educational Grant.We were able to distribute 33 educational grants this year.The grants are funded from the Cardinal Medeiros Fellowship and State Charities.

Texas is very involved in the Wheel Chair program.We were able to buy 2,921 chairs last year from wheel chair fund raisers throughout the State. The Dallas Diocese was responsible for 55% of the total raising $241,244.Council 11716 in Plano raised $129,408.The program 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. Remember to include the Council’s hours and dollars raised on the Form 1728.

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

Amarillo Bishop Zurek Priest & Seminarian spirituality training

Austin Bishop Vasquez Vocations fund & Emergency fund for Priests

Beaumont Bishop Guillory Infirm & Retired Priest fund

Brownsville Bishop Flores Deaf & Disabled ministries

Corpus Christi Bishop Mulvey ARK Emergency Shelter for Youth

Dallas Bishop Burns Deaf & Disabled ministries

El Paso Bishop Seitz Vocations fund

Fort Worth Bishop Olson Deaf ministry & Vocations fund

Galveston-Houston Cardinal DiNardo Catholic schools fund

Laredo Bishop Tamayo Evangelization outreach & Seminarian support

Lubbock Bishop Coerver Vocations & Seminarian support

San Angelo Bishop Sis Pro-life, Seminarian and lay leadership development

San Antonio Archbishop Garcia-Siller Deaf ministry

Tyler Bishop Strickland Seminarian support

Victoria Bishop Cahill Priest & lay leadership education & evangelization