Texas State Council Charities

Our State Chaplin, Most Reverend Bishop Strickland, should be proud of his Tyler Diocese Knights because they made their Charity Goal before December 1. This milestone is no fluke. Under the leadership of Diocesan Deputy and all of the District Deputies and the Diocesan Grand Knights was this achievement even possible where 100% of the Councils and 100% of the Districts made 100%. The Tyler Diocese has made their Charity Goal 27 consecutive years. The Fort Worth Diocese is close behind at 91.6% of their goal. These results are with 80% of the Councils at 100%, or better, and 56% of the Districts at 100% or better.

The other Dioceses in order of percentage of their goal are Victoria 85%, Galveston/Houston 83.2%, Dallas 77.9%, San Antonio 74.7%, El Paso 73.1%, Amarillo 70.8%, Austin 70.1%, San Angelo 61.9%, Beaumont 61%, Lubbock 55.3%, Brownsville 31.9%, Corpus Christi 29.3%, and Laredo 26.4%. The Stae is at 73.5%. We can still make our goal, but it will take an effort from all Councils to participate.

Why is it important to have a KC License Plate on your car or truck? Why is it important for your wife and kids have a KC License Plate on their car or truck? Two great examples can answer that question. On one occasion, a Lady Knight had an issue with her car when her battery died on her. She looked around the parking lot and noticed a pick-up with a KC plate. She knew that she could trust the owner and when he returned to his truck she asked if he could help her. He jumped her off and made sure that she left the parking lot safely. Another incident found a Lady Knight whose car would start but couldn’t get into gear. A Brother Knight was driving by, saw the lady in distress, noticed the KC plate on her car and was able to help her, he owned a towing company and help her get her car to an auto repair shop.

For FY 2019, 1,115 license plates were either purchased for the first time or renewed. This is an increase from the 1,065 new or renewed plate from 2018. Remember that these funds assist our retired Priests.

Give Joe Govea (817-703-8408) a call and he 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.

In August, Dennis Taylor, FS Corpus Christi Council 7290, was in need of two 18” and one 20” wheelchairs. Bill Weber from the Dallas Diocese made contact with Jon Klauenberg of San Antonio and Joe Jimenez of the Austin Diocese and everyone gathered the necessary wheelchairs. Brother Dennis made a trip to San Antonio and picked up the wheelchairs. This is a perfect example of Brother Knights from four Dioceses helping each other to solve a problem.

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 program is headed by Bill Weber (214-405-8023. yankeesweb@tx.rr.com ). You can contact him for help in getting a fundraiser started at your Parish or with any questions. A chair can be donated, in the name of or in the memory of a loved one for $150. Also, small and large containers are available for $18,500 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.

Your Emergency Response Team was ready for the latest disaster in Texas, Tropical Storm Imelda. They began watching its progress a few days before it dumped 40 to 50 inches of rain in the Beaumont and Galveston/Houston Dioceses. Chairman Harry Storey was able to get financial support from Supreme and the local Knights went to work helping victims and feeding the rescue workers and volunteers. To date, there have been 37 Knights from 15 councils affected by the storm and, between gift cards and grants, we have been able to give those who wanted it a little financial help. Besides helping financially, our team is there to help the affected Knights navigate through a very difficult time and to a brighter future.

• Council 6456 Knights in Conroe assisted an elderly widowed parishioner get help for a leaky roof, assisted neighbors and friends with cleanup efforts, and a couple Knights (one who is a retired landscaper) are working with the priest to redesign the drainage around the church to make sure that it doesn’t flood again.
• Council 12320 Knights in Kingwood provided lunch and cleaning supplies for a Knight whose home flooded. They also worked with Catholic Charities to create a Houston Food Distribution site one weekend. Besides organizing pallets of food, bagging groceries, loading cars and directing traffic for over 800 families, they also provided lunch for 45 volunteers!
• Council 6878 Knights in Humble cleaned out flooded homes and helped a flooded Knight move furniture. They also cleaned out the flooded Humble Chapter of Birthright and provided lunch to all the volunteers.
• Council 6557 Knights in Spring helped set up and man temporary Red Cross shelters.
• Council 6527 in Katy worked with a parish team to clean out flooded homes in the neighborhood.
• Council 3406 Knights in Bridge City in the Beaumont Diocese served breakfast and lunch to 40 National Guardsmen for 4 days!

The Emergency Response 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 are covered by Harry Storey. Our hope is that this group has nothing to do all year, but if they are needed to assist in an emergency, the Texas Knights of Columbus Emergency Response Coordinators (State, Regional, Diocesan, and Council) are ready and trained to help.

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 Terry Sullivan (214-533-9899) will be calling on Amarillo, Lubbock, and El Paso.

We are very grateful to all of the Councils who participate in Texas State Charities. There are 728 active Councils in Texas. Four hundred twenty Councils have met or exceeded their Charity Goal through the end of December, 108 less than 100%, and 200 Councils at zero participation. Be sure to read the article on the Texas Web-site, tkofc.org, about what the Knights are doing to assist our Bishop’s on the border with the immigration issue.

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 met 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. 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.

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 Burnsl 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