Texas State Charities

The 2019 – 2020 Fraternal Year is coming to a close, and what a year it has been!The Coronal Virus Pandemic has altered our lives for the past two months.We all had to “attend Mass” via our I-phones or computer.We were introduced to “Zoom” and other new technology applications to hold meetings and the Texas State Convention.Fundraising events, like fish fries, had to be cancelled because of the Virus.

Because of the virus, State Charities has suffered from low contributions.Councils who would normally save their check presentation at the State Convention or waited until after Easter have held off their contributions.Despite the virus the Fort Worth Diocese joined the Tyler Diocese by achieving 100% of their Charity Goal, for the 25^th consecutive year.

The other Dioceses in order of percentage of their goal are Galveston/Houston 87.8%, Victoria 87.1%, Dallas 86.3%, El Paso 83.3%, San Antonio 76.3%, Austin 76.2%, Beaumont 74.8%,Amarillo 74.7%, San Angelo 64.2%, Lubbock 57%, Corpus Christi 37.6%, Brownsville 31.9%, and Laredo 28.3%.The State is at 78%.We can still make our goal, but it will take an effort from all Councils to participate.

Supreme has notified us that the first half of next year’s Supreme Per Capita will be waived.This savings plus the expenses saved from the cancellation of the State Convention should ease the pain of supporting State Charities. We are $220,000 short as of April 30.

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.

Texas is very involved in the Wheel Chair program.We were able to buy 2,603 this year compared to 2,921 chairs last year from wheel chair fund raisers throughout the State. Out of 728 active Councils in the State only 102 participate in the Wheelchair Mission, 14%.Because of the COVID-19, there may not be the opportunity to have any more Wheelchair Drives the rest of the fraternal year.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 is promoting the “Leave no Neighbor Behind Program”.Make an effort to contact your Brother Knights and just check on them.See how there doing, see if the Council can help.You would be surprised how grateful your Brother Knights are that the Council is calling out of concern instead of asking to help on an activity or a contribution.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 forty-eight Councils have met or exceeded their Charity Goal through the end of April, 112 less than 100%, and 168 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.We were able to present a check to Texas Special Olympics a check $45,000.State Charities raised $26,000 and Supreme kicked in $9,000.Only 105 Councils sent in a Form 4584.

Giacomo Leone (512-983-7576) can assist you with the Educational Grant.We were able to distribute $61,000 for 24 individual educational grants and48 Catholic School 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