Welcome (Community Activities)

Written by Jeff Slama. Posted in Welcome

Community Activities
Mike Grudzinski, State Director     Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Lending a Hand and Making a Difference in Our Community

 

There is an old adage which goes “No man stands taller than when he bends down to help someone in need,” and that is exactly what we do as Knights - we stand tall in our community by helping people who are in need of assistance. Please join our efforts as we assist our neighbors in need through the following programs:


Drive for Persons with Developmental Disabilities
TootsieRollThe weekend of October 12-14, we ask your council to participate in our annual drive by distributing Tootsie Rolls with the proceeds going to agencies which work with persons with developmental disabilities. One-half of the money raised goes to the Knights of Columbus Developmental Center at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center with your council receiving the other half to support programs for those with special needs in your community.    Program Overview & Goals       Program Checklist      Cardinal Glennon Progress!
Chairmen: Reynolds Blackburn (East) and Stan McClatchey (West)


Special Olympics Missouri
SOMOWe as Knights continue our ongoing relationship with Special Olympics Missouri through donations of time, talents and treasures. If your council or assembly has not supported SOMO in the past, please make it a priority to do so this year. Attend a SOMO event, and I guarantee you will come back again and again!
Chairman: Jim O’Fallon


Prison Concern
Prison“I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Mathew 25:36. We cannot simply forget our brothers and sisters who have committed a crime, and pretend that they do not exist. We need to love and support them and their families.
Chairman: Dave Kiesling


Health Services
BloodCan you think of anything more precious than giving the gift of life? Through sponsoring a blood drive, you are giving life to your neighbors in need.
Chairman: Dave Bramman



Wheelchair Mission
WheelchairThrough our partnership with the American Wheelchair Mission, you can give the gift of mobility to someone in need.
Chairman: Dave Bramman



Legislative
LegislativeWe are fortunate to live in a democracy, where we elect people to represent us at the city, county, state and federal levels; but we must also do our part and stay informed on pending legislation and let our elected officials know how we, as Catholic Missouri citizens, feel about the important legislative issues facing us today.
Chairman: Stan Mengwasser

 

 

Developmental Disabilities Drive Overview

Written by Jeff Slama. Posted in Developmental Disabilities Drive

Drive for Persons with Developmental Disabilities

Drive October 12, 13 & 14, 2012*
Goal = $650,000.00

Online Donations can be made at http://tinyurl.com/KnightsDDD

(*Councils are asked to conduct their drive Oct. 12-14; however, if there are special circumstances that your council cannot conduct its drive this weekend, the insurance purchased by the state council to cover the drive is effective every weekend in the month of October.)

We as members of the Knights of Columbus are committed to supporting organizations who are dedicated to the health, education and welfare of persons with developmental disabilities. This is highlighted each year by our “Drive for Persons with Developmental Disabilities” (formerly known as the “Tootsie Roll Drive,” and more recently as the “MR Drive”).

Knights of Columbus Developmental Center at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center

One-half of all proceeds collected in this annual drive go to support the Developmental Center which was started by the Missouri Knights in 1982.

Services:

The Center specializes in diagnosing and treating thousands of children afflicted with: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental Delays, Learning Disabilities, Dyslexia, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Prader-Willie Syndrome, Hyperactivity and Attention Deficit Disorder. This is done by a staff of Child Psychologists, Educational Diagnosticians, Social Workers, Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, Special Family Therapists, and special consultant “Professor Higgins” (a Goldendoodle) who provides “Dog Therapy.” Other programs in place include: Parent Education, Developmental Screening, Professional Training and Developmental Education.

CardinalGlennon

Artist’s rendering of the new Knights of Columbus Developmental Center, which will be located on the 2nd floor of the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation building at 3800 Park Ave. in St. Louis. This new facility will more than double the center size from its current 4,200 sq ft to 10,500 sq ft. This location will also have parking spots near the door which will make it much more convenient to get patients into their appointments.

Turn-Around Funds

The other half of the proceeds collected goes back to your council to use to support local programs for persons with developmental disabilities. Over 240 different agencies across the state receive support through this manner.

Turn-around fund request forms should be completed no later than June 30, 2013.
Councils who do not have a specific agency in their area which works with the developmentally disabled are encouraged to request that their turn-around funds be donated to the Knights of Columbus Developmental Center or to Special Olympics Missouri. You can indicate your preference on a Developmental Disabilities Drive Request Form.

Councils who do not have a specific agency in their area which works with the developmentally
disabled are encouraged to request that their turn-around funds be donated to the Knights of
Columbus Developmental Center or to Special Olympics Missouri. You can indicate your preference on a Developmental Disabilities Drive Request Form.

Checklist

Written by Jeff Slama. Posted in Checklist

GRAND KNIGHT’S CHECKLIST FOR THE 2012 DRIVE (summary)
  1. July      Appoint a Developmental Disabilities Drive Chairman for your council.
  2. July      Contact State Developmental Disabilities Chairman (West or East) and report Council Chairman (including phone number and email address).
  3. July      Obtain permission and or permits (if necessary) to collect from local business’ and cities.
  4. Aug.     Order Tootsie Rolls and aprons by August 25, 2012.
  5. Aug.     Send copy of Tootsie Roll order form to the State Community Director.
  6. Aug.     Arrange for Promotion of your local drive through local media.  A sample News Release is included in the long detailed instructions below.
  7. Sept.    Recruit and assign members a place to collect by September 30.
  8. Sept.    Communicate with other councils in the area to maximize efforts.
  9. Oct.      Verify that everything is ready and participate in the Drive!
  10. Nov.     Complete the Final Report forms and send to the appropriate people.
  11. Jan. 1, 2013  Deadline for Final Report and Money for the Awards handed out at convention.

GRANDKNIGHT’S CHECKLIST (detailed instructions, with sample Press Release and Business Appeal Letter)

Special Olympics

Written by Anna Nytes. Posted in Special Olympics

Special Olympics Misouri

Whose  Mission is . . .

to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.   Continue reading...

Special Olympics Partnership Profile Report   (due by Jan 31, 2013) 

Announcing:  the 2013 Special Olympics Wheels for Winners car raffle!  Win a brand new Dodge Challenger!  Order raffle tickets and get them turned in to Special Olympics by November 1, 2013.

For more information, contact:  James O'Fallon, Special Olympics Chairman
Please mail donations to: Ralph Cupelli, Columbian Charities Treasurer

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