The Knights of Columbus was founded by Venerable Servant of God Father Michael McGivney, a New Haven parish priest, in 1882. The organization was formed to provide charitable outreach and care for the financial well being of Catholic families, focusing on the protection of widows and orphans, and on strengthening the faith of its members. It has grown into the world’s largest lay Catholic organization, with more than 1.9 million members throughout North and Central America, the Philippines, the Caribbean, and Europe. An enormous force for good, the 16,000 Knights of Columbus councils have donated more than $1.5 billion and 682 million hours of service over the last decade to various charitable causes.