NEW HAVEN, Conn.—The Knights of Columbus reached a new record in charitable donations by contributing $154,651,852 in 2010, according to an annual survey they conduct.
Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson released the results in a presentation to the organization’s board of directors and state leaders at meeting June 8-12 at its international headquarters.
The results of the survey for the year ending Dec. 31, 2010 stated that total charitable contributions exceeded the previous year by more than $3 million, according to a press release. The figure includes $29,083,191 donated by the supreme council and $125,568,661 in contributions from the organization’s state and local affiliates.
Sixty percent of the contributions were for projects at the community level. Large donations during the period included $1 million distribution for a Food for Families program and $1 million for an effort in cooperation with Project Medishare to give prosthetics to Haitian children who lost limbs during the January 2010 earthquake, according to the organization’s statement.
The survey also reported that the quantity of volunteer service hours to charitable causes by Knights grew to 70,049,433 — an increase of 797,507 hours from 2009. Among the service programs receiving significant Knight volunteer hours were Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, and the Global Wheelchair Mission. The Knights also had 428,000 blood donations during the year.
The Knights of Columbus also reported that 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 Knights of Columbus significantly expanded its outreach to those in need last year, and will continue to do because of the economic problems facing so many people in our communities,” Supreme Knight Carl Anderson said in a statement. “Despite the fact that the economy has also created hardship for many of our own members, Knights have stepped up as never before to meet the needs of their neighbors. We have taken very seriously the fact that we are our brother’s keeper.”