Knights of Columbus pledge $1.4 million for Special Olympics

Last updated on: July 15, 2014 at 8:10 am by CNA Daily News

Knights of Columbus pledge $1.4 million for Special Olympics 2014-07-15T08:10:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Los Angeles, Calif., Jul 15, 2014 / 02:10 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Knights of Columbus have pledged $1.4 million for next year’s Special Olympics World Games, helping to cover participating athletes’ expenses for the Los Angeles event.

“Our support exemplifies our commitment to the dignity of every person, our dedication to assisting with our neighbors’ needs whatever they may be, and our deep appreciation for the great work done by Special Olympics,” Supreme Knight Carl Anderson said in Los Angeles July 14.

The Special Olympics World Games will bring together over 7,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from 171 countries. It will feature 21 Olympic-type sports.

The pledged funds will support food, transportation and entertainment costs for every athlete from the U.S. and Canada. Anderson has asked Knights of Columbus leaders in each U.S. state and Canadian province to help increase volunteer activity on behalf of the Special Olympics.

The pledge announcement came at a news conference at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Other speakers included Special Olympics CEO and president Patrick McClenahan and Los Angeles Archbishop José H. Gomez.

Archbishop Gomez said that Los Angeles Catholics are “happy and proud” to welcome the event.

“The Special Olympics is a celebration of human dignity and a beautiful sign that our world is truly one family drawn from peoples of every race and language,” he said. “We look forward to working with the Knights of Columbus, and we pray that this competition will promote solidarity and make all of us more aware of our common humanity.”

McClenahan said that the Knights of Columbus have shown “long and generous support” for the event.

“We hope their donation inspires other organizations to be a part of what will no doubt be a life-changing experience for all involved in the 2015 Special Olympic World Games.”

Anderson said that the Knights of Columbus have been involved with the Special Olympics “from the very beginning.” The games were founded in the late 1960s by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a sister of President John F. Kennedy.

“Sargent Shriver, Eunice’s husband, was a friend and a proud member of the Knights of Columbus, and like him, we are here today to continue those efforts on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities,” Anderson said.

The Special Olympics’ World Games honored the Knights of Columbus on Monday by naming the organization a founding champion.

A Catholic organization dedicated to fraternity and charity, the Knights of Columbus have more than 1.8 million members worldwide.

Local councils donated more than $3.5 million to Special Olympics in 2013. Individual members worked more than 250,000 service hours at almost 20,000 Special Olympic events.

In addition, individual councils in 2013 donated another $13.5 million to other projects that help the intellectually disabled.

Previous Post

July 15, 2014

Berlin cardinal transferred to Germany's largest archdiocese

Next Post

July 15, 2014 Thai bishop sows seeds of evangelization in mission diocese

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the king of Babylon during the exile of the Israelites?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Darius Nebuchadnezzar Belshazzar Cyrus