Knights
carry Christ’s love to needy people
By Lou Baldwin
Special to The CS&T
Charity is fundamental to the Knights of Columbus.
It always was and always will be. As a matter of fact, it is the
single lesson emphasized at the first degree initiation for new members
of the fraternal organization.
It’s only natural that the Philadelphia Chapter of the Knights would
be in the midst of an annual charity drive that helps all sorts of worthy
projects.
The Knights were founded in Connecticut in 1882 and were introduced to
Philadelphia in 1896. Just six years later, the then-several councils
in the Philadelphia area banded together to form the Philadelphia Chapter,
with the express purpose of conducting joint activities not practical
for a single council.
Prominent among those activities from the very beginning were works of
charity, and in 1945 the Philadelphia Knights began a charity drive, principally
among its own membership. The tradition is carried on to this day by the
chapter, which now counts 33 individual councils in its membership.
Generally speaking, individual grants from the Knights’ fund are
not large — but they are varied.
Grants fall under four categories: Catholic institutions, Catholic and
public emergencies, scholastic aid and aid to members, the last in keeping
with the original purpose of the Knights as a fraternal benefit society.
“I feel this is what our founder, Father (Michael) McGivney would
want us to do,” said Robert Larkin, the President of the Philadelphia
Chapter, and a member of Santa Maria Council 263 which meets in Flourtown.
His own favorite outreach program is the Children’s Outing, of which
he is the chairman.
It started many years ago with the old K. of C. Auto Club, whose members
would take children from Catholic orphanages, foster homes and institutions
to Steel Pier in Atlantic City, N.J.
Over the years, the outings changed to Woodside Park, Willow Grove Park
and now Clementon Park, N.J. Larkin became in involved in the outings
during the years when it was run by former Sheriff of Philadelphia Bill
Lennox, and he has never stopped.
“We take about 500 children there — and it is really worth
it when you see them laughing and smiling,” Larkin said.
Contributions to the Philadelphia Chapter Knights of Columbus Charity
Fund should be sent to: Philadelphia Chapter Knights of Columbus, Nicholas
Milillo, Chairman, 3135 Sheppard Road, Bensalem, PA 19020.
Lou Baldwin is a member of St. Leo Parish and a freelance writer.
Knights’ Beneficiaries
A partial list of recent beneficiaries of funds from the drive includes:
• Annual Outing for Children with Disabilities
• Archdiocesan Family Life Services
• The National Shrine of St. Katharine Drexel
• The Catholic Guild for the Blind
• The Catholic League for Persons with Disabilities
• Catholic Relief Services
• Little Sisters of the Poor
• Blessed Margaret of Castello Home
• Mom’s House
• Natural disasters
• Police Athletic League
• St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
• St. Lucy Summer Day Camp
• St. Francis Inn
• St. Ignatius Nursing Home
• St. John’s Hospice
• Scholastic aid
• Woodhaven Home
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