It would be difficult to find a Catholic, or for that matter an American, who has not heard of the Knights of Columbus. It was founded as a fraternal society by Father Michael McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut in 1882. Its purpose was to bring financial aid and assistance to the sick, disabled and needy members and their families. Today, one-hundred and forty some years later, the Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest organization of Catholic men and has over two million members worldwide.
The core values of this venerable institution are charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. As demonstrated by the history outlined on its website, all of these values have been championed by the Knights thought the challenging decades in the last century and until now. Readers familiar with ecclesial history in the United States can appreciate the role the Knights have played in promoting the welfare of the Church and in making it known that allegiance to their faith was not in conflict with allegiance to the country.
Providing financial assistance for scholarships is part of the organization’s mission. The Coffee Run Council #6768 (there are more than seventeen thousand Councils worldwide) at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Hockessin, Delaware was founded in 1976 and now includes over two hundred members. This Council has recently partnered with the National Catholic Community Foundation in an effort to promote its scholarship tuition program.
In July of this year, the Coffee Run Council created the Knights of Columbus Coffee Run Scholarship Fund at NCCF. The purpose of this donor advised fund is to receive donations generated by members of the Council and, in turn, to provide financial assistance to St. Mary of the Assumption Parish students attending Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware. The scholarship awards are based on merit and need. The attached photo captures the presentation of the first check by the Coffee Run Council to NCCF.
The trustees of the National Catholic Community Foundation are pleased and honored to collaborate with the Knights of Columbus in this promising endeavor. We note with interest that Fr. McGivney has been beatified and is being considered for canonization. Imagine administering a fund established by a fraternal society founded by a saint!