Stachelek works with the K of C’s Operation Hope, a statewide charity for persons with learning disabilities. Last year, with donations from councils and corporations, Operation Hope raised $225,000, much of it going to Special Olympics.
TOPPING
$1 MILLION
“The Knights have enabled us to significantly
increase the quality of support and the quality of life for so many hundreds
of people over the years,” said Malcolm Jeffreys, executive director
of Community Living Windsor, which provides a range of support and vocational
training services to 400 disabled persons in Ontario.
With a $50,000 donation this year, Holy Family Council 4386 in South Windsor will bring its contribution to $1 million over the past 23 years.
The money has gone to projects that government funding does not cover, including the purchase of 11 vans for outings and educational trips, Jeffreys explained. With donations from the council, Community Living opened a fast-food restaurant staffed by persons with disabilities.
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The 25-acre campus of Ottawa Friendship House in
Ottawa, Ill., a day and residential facility for persons with disabilities,
includes a Knights of Columbus Cottage and a sidewalk dedicated in
honor of the Order. Over the past 28 years, Starved Rock Council 634
in Ottawa has contributed more than $110,000 to the facility.
“We’ve bought a snowplow, a walk-in
cooler and helped in many other ways,” said council member
Rudy V. D’Souza, who works as controller of Friendship House.
Showing the power of fraternal cooperation, four councils in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, pooled their resources in the 1970s to found Discovery Living, which today administers 16 community homes for 60 adults with developmental disabilities. Two members from each of the four councils sit on the corporation’s board, and seven councils in the area donate about $40,000 annually.
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John Morris, executive
director of Discovery Living, said that although he is not a Catholic
he is “one of the greatest promoters of the Knights in this
area. I have the utmost respect for what the KCs have done locally.
They have been so faithful, so helpful, so diligent about this work.”
BRINGING THE STATE TOGETHER
“Our Knights look forward to helping out,” State Deputy John F. Michalski said. “It’s a wonderful weekend.” Past State Deputy Paul D. Piché (1997-98), chairman of the Special Olympics Fall Games, said that 400 Knights |
