Centennial Celebration : Ridgewood-Glen Rock Knights of Columbus will be celebrating our 100th anniversary of service
Ridgewood NJ, On Saturday, the 14th of June of this year, the Ridgewood-Glen Rock Knights of Columbus will be celebrating our 100th anniversary of service to our community. As one of the oldest Councils in the State of New Jersey, our purpose to serve those in need has spanned many wars, natural disasters and individual tragedies. Those of us affiliated with this charitable fraternal organization have found meaning in supporting anyone who has asked for our assistance. It is with this century old resolve that we humbly ask for your support for our 100th Anniversary Fund Raiser.
On the Anniversary evening, 300 plus guests and dignitaries will gather to celebrate and more importantly, to raise fund for three very important charities:
Ridgewood Social Service/Food Bank
Camp Sunshine
Good Counsel Homes
Each organization is qualified as a 501(c)3 entity by the Internal Revenue Service. Each cares for a particular group in need as they collectively feed the hungry, enrich the lives of the mentally disabled and provide shelter to mothers and children who have been abandoned by society. Our question to you is: will you help us help them by being one of our Centennial Anniversary Sponsors?
Please take a moment to review the information regarding this event. If you have any questions, we would be pleased to meet with you in person to discuss your sponsorship questions or if you would prefer to discuss by phone, please feel free to call any of the any of the following, at your convenience:
Brian Conn @ 201-444-0572
Pete Bernardo @ 201-348-7856
David Seaman @ 201-906-8608
Thank you in advance for your kind generosity.
Become an Underwriting Sponsor
Who are the Knights of Columbus?
The Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest men’s Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded by the Venerable Father Michael McGivney in New Haven, CT, in 1882, it was named in honor of the navigator/explorer Christopher Columbus. There are more than 1.8 million members in 15,000 councils, with nearly 200 councils on college campuses. The Order is still true to its founding principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism.
Last year alone, in addition to raising and donating more than $158 million to charitable needs and projects, Knights volunteered more than 70 million hours of their time to charitable causes. Time and resources are donated to those in need and without regard to religious affiliation. We undertake these acts of charity because we see those in need in our community. Our charitable activities encompass an almost infinite variety of local, national and international projects. From international charitable partnerships with Special Olympics, the Global Wheelchair Mission and Habitat for Humanity to our own Food for Families and Coats for Kids projects and other purely local charities, the opportunity to work together with fellow Knights and their families is virtually endless. The Knights’ annual Survey of Fraternal Activity for the year ending Dec. 31, 2011, indicated that, despite a soft economy, total charitable contributions reached $154,651,852 – exceeding the previous year’s total by more than $3.4 million. Sixty percent of the contributions were for projects at the community level, many involving youth activities. Not included in this figure is the quantity of volunteer service hours to charitable causes by Knights grew to 70,053,149 – an increase of 797,507 hours compared to 2009. There were more than 418,841 Knights of Columbus blood donations during the year.
Cumulative figures show that during the past decade, the Knights of Columbus has donated $1.406 billion to charity, and provided more than 653 million hours of volunteer service in support of charitable initiatives.
The Ridgewood Council #1736 is one of the oldest in the State of New Jersey, and even the United States, celebrating its 100th Anniversary in June 2014. It boasts an active membership of over 300+ members. Just in the last ten years, Council #1736 has donated over $ 250,000 to local charities, the needy, and to those marginalized by society.
In addition, our council members have contributed over one hundred thousand man hours to better our community and all of its members. Some of the charities include:
Adler Aphasia Center. Alfa Development, Inc., American Cancer Society, Archdiocese of Newark, Ministry for Persons w/Disabilities, Camp Sunshine, Dad’s Night, EBV Foundation, Eva’s Kitchen, Friends to Friends, Good Counsel Homes, HonorVet.org, John Wayne Cancer Center, Knowledge is the Cure, Lots of Love 4 Lindsay, Mary Therese Rose Fund, Inc., New Hope 4 Life, New Jersey Disaster Relief Program, Our Lady of Victories Soup Kitchen, Paramus Veteran’s Home, Parents of Autistic Children of Ocean County, Inc, Phoenix Center, Project Youth Haven, Putting the Pieces Together, Ridgewood Social Services/Food Bank, Ridgewood P.B.A. Charity for Haley, Ridgewood Professional Firefighters FMBA Local 47, Run for Hope Foundation, St. Jude’s Research Hospital, St. Mary’s RC Church, Ken’s Kitchen, Senior Citizens Christmas Party, Special Olympics, The Opportunity Center, Wounded Warrior Project.
Sean Noble, the current Grand Knight, thanked the many supporters and organizers of the event. In particular, he thanked Brian Conn, who had the vision of an event on such a grand scale, which initiated the planning process over a year ago; Dave Seaman, Mark Stappenbeck, and Pete Bernardo, who handled the fundraising and financial planning; Joe Carey, Kevin Casey, and Doug Findlay, who managed the infrastructure and catering; Tim Bradley, who managed the printing of the programs and invitations; and Andy Meyer, in charge of the entertainment committee. “While this evening was the culmination of a year’s worth of planning, it really marks a beginning for the next 100 years for the Knights in Ridgewood”, said Noble.