Historical Facts About the Knights of Columbus

· The KofC has always stood for racial equality. The first African American Knight joined in 1890s.

· 1920s: Went head to head against the KKK to stop anti-Catholic bigotry and persecution of Catholic churches and schools. A 1921 KKK pamphlet stated, “… the organization most interested in the destruction of the Ku Klux Klan is the Roman Catholic Order of the Knights of Columbus.” The KKK were the first to try to abolish Columbus Day in the 1920s due to their hatred of Catholics.

· During World War I, the Order provided rest and recreational facilities and social services to Allied servicemen of all faiths and races. K of C Huts throughout the United States and Europe provided religious services, supplies and recreation under the motto, “Everybody Welcome, Everything Free.” Everybody meant everybody. Whatever your race or creed, you were welcome at

 K of C facilities. In fact, the Order was praised by a contemporary African American historian of World War I, because “unlike the other social welfare organizations operating in the war, it never drew the color line.”

· After WWII, the KofC Historical Commission worked to overcome racial prejudice in American society, publishing books on the contributions of African-, Jewish-, and German-Americans.

· Support for employment after Great Depression and World Wars

· Support for military and veterans: In 1944: The Order created a $1 million trust fund for the education of children of members who lost their lives in or as a result of World War II. This evolved into the current scholarship fund for use at Catholic colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

· 1954: Knights of Columbus spearheaded putting “under God” into the Pledge of Allegiance

· 1959: On Nov. 20, 1959, the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC was dedicated with a more than 1,000 Knight honor guard. The Knights of Columbus contributed $1 million to construct the 329-foot bell tower.

· Support for Catholic media: the Order funds “uplink” transmissions for major worldwide satellite telecasts from the Vatican with audiences estimated in the billions for Midnight Mass from St. Peter’s Basilica.

· KofC sponsors all World Youth Days started by Pope St. John Paul II

· 2018 Knights of Columbus report charitable work with an unprecedented $185 million in donations and 76 million hours of service provided worldwide (valued at $1.9 billion)

· Disaster relief: KofC gave significant charitable contributions to the people of Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake in 2010, donated 1,000 wheelchairs, and donated $2.5 million for free prosthetic limbs and a minimum of two years of rehab for every Haitian child.

· Our charitable activities encompass an almost infinite variety of local, national and international projects. Our own unique charities include the Christian Refugee Relief Fund, Disaster Relief, Ultrasound Initiative, and Coats for Kids.

· Support for disabilities and housing: we also partner with international charities including Special Olympics, the Global Wheelchair Mission and Habitat for Humanity.

· Health initiatives: blood drives and donation of over 1,500 ultrasound machines

· Refugees: supported refugees in Middle East, South America, and Ukraine

· Support for Catholic buildings and education

· Support for Catholic liturgy and vocations

· Education initiatives: The Catholic University of America, Scholarships, Correspondence courses for veterans, etc.

· There are more than 16,000 local Knights of Columbus councils around the world, including over 300 on college campuses (which are comprised of all students over 18).

· Pope St. John Paul II called the Knights of Columbus “the strong right arm of the Catholic Church.”

· Pope Francis wrote “… the Knights of Columbus continue to bear prophetic witness to God’s dream for a more fraternal, just and equitable world in which all are recognized as neighbors and no one is left behind.”