COUNCIL INFORMATION
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest Catholic fraternal organization and benefit society. Its four principles are Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. Founded in the basement of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, CT in 1882 by Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney, the Knights of Columbus today has a membership of more than 1.9 million members across the globe.
In the past decade, the Knights of Columbus has contributed more than $1.5 billion and 690 million hours to charitable projects. Under its four charitable program areas of Faith, Family, Life and Community, the Knights provide charitable support to various organizations and initiatives. As an Order, the Knights support March for Life, Vocations Support, Ukraine Solidarity Fund, Christian Refugee Support, Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, Crisis Pregnancy Centers, Maternity Homes, Coats for Kids, Food for Families, Global Wheelchair Mission, the Gary Sinise Foundation and aid to natural disaster victims. Most notably, through its Ultrasound Initiative, the Knights of Columbus have donated over 1550 ultrasound machines to Crisis Pregnancy Centers, which have been used to save hundreds of thousands of unborn lives.
As a fraternal benefit society, the Knights of Columbus cares for the financial needs of its members and their families through its insurance program, which has received the highest ratings possible from A.M. Best and been named a World’s Most Ethical Company by the Ethisphere Institute.
Membership is open to practical Catholic men 18 years or older in union with the Holy See.