In January, the Knights of Columbus deGoësbriand Council #279 in Burlington gave a $10,000 donation to the Knights of Columbus Catholic Ministries Donor Advised Fund in the Vermont Catholic Community Foundation.

“We know that our donation when combined with the donations from other Vermont Knights of Columbus councils will significantly impact the ability for the Knights of Columbus to do good across the state for years to come,” said Dan St. Hilaire, grand knight of #279. “While we absolutely believe in supporting our local community and will continue to do so, we believe that the Knights of Columbus Catholic Ministries Donor Advised Fund will provide the Knights of Columbus across the State of Vermont with an opportunity to do good on a larger scale with quicker results.”

The Knights of Columbus Catholic Ministries Donor Advised Fund was established last year during the statewide Christ Our Hope campaign to create a mechanism for all the Knights of Columbus councils to combine their resources and annually address an urgent need in the Catholic community.

“I have asked every Knights of Columbus council to make a contribution by the end of this fiscal year,” Burlington Bishop Christopher Coyne said. “We have urgent needs in our schools, parishes, ministries and charitable organizations that can only be addressed if we work together with our councils. I am so very grateful for the contributions the fund has already received.”

Each year representatives from the Knights of Columbus will advise Bishop Coyne on where to grant the annual distribution. This year will be the first distribution of about $10,000.

Thus far, four councils, the Vermont State Knights of Columbus, the Diocese and individual donors have contributed $ $149,500 (includes pledges). This breaks down to:

$100,000 Council #7525 in South Burlington

$10,000 Council #279 in Burlington

$5,000 Council #2284 in Winooski (with a pledge to donate another $15,000)

$1,500 Council #297 in St. Albans

$5,000 Vermont State Knights of Columbus

$3,000 Diocese of Burlington

$10,000 Individual donors.

Donations can be made to the Vermont Catholic Community Foundation with a notation for the Knights of Columbus Catholic Ministries Donor Advised Fund. For more information, go to vtcatholicfoundation.org or contact Ellen Kane, ekane@vermontcatholic.org.

—Originally published in the Spring 2023 issue of Vermont Catholic magazine.