California Columbian Charities, Inc. P.O. Box 2649 West Covina, CA 91793-2649
Please send all donations to this address
California’s Exceptional Fraternal Benefit California Columbian Charities provides assistance to Brothers who are suffering financial hardship.
In 1955 the State Council created California Columbian Charities, Inc. The charity is dedicated to assisting California Brothers in financial distress, including their widows. For nearly seventy years we have consistently worked to provide CHARITY, the first principle of our Order, and to fulfill Blessed Father McGivney’s mandate of BROTHER HELPING BROTHER.
During the past seven decades we have responded to over 2,400 requests for assistance from Brother Knights in California and have given more than $3,600,000 in relief.
If you know of a Brother who is in need of assistance, please ask his council’s Grand Knight to contact the California State Council office for Charity application forms. See the following instruction page for details.
We need your generous charitable and fraternal support to continue assisting Brothers in distress.
The 365 Club and the Parade of Grand Knights are the primary means of raising funds for California Columbian Charities. We ask that every Brother in California join the 365 Club and donate a penny a day – either by adding an additional $3.65 (or more) to their dues payment, or by a cash donation at council meetings. The council should hold these funds until May when they can be brought to the State Convention and the Parade of Grand Knights.
If your Council is presently requesting its Brothers to join the 365 Club, we ask all Brothers to donate and join. If not, we ask your Council’s Financial Secretary to introduce your Brothers to the 365 Club by adding an additional line to the dues billing statement (including those sent to non-dues paying Honorary and Honorary Life Members): “365 Club – Please add a $3.65 donation to California Columbian Charities.” This will provide every Brother in your Council an opportunity to practice charity, unity and fraternity.
All Councils, Chapters and Assemblies making a donation to our charity will receive an Award Ribbon. We hope that 100% of the active Councils in California participate and contribute.
If a council misses the convention it should not overlook its donation. Please mail all council and personal checks (payable to California Columbian Charities, Inc.) to the above address. The donations can be sent at any time.
Although the 365 Club and Parade of Grand Knights involve only one donation a year at the State Convention, further donations are appreciated by Columbian Charities and by your Brothers in distress.
Thank you for your kindness and generosity.
God Bless you for your support of the 365 Club / California Columbian Charities, Inc. You should be proud of the assistance that you have provided for your Brother Knights and their families.
Charity begins at home – BROTHER HELPING BROTHER
CALIFORNIA COLUMBIAN CHARITIES, INC.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR GRAND KNIGHTS.
HOW TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
Q. Who is eligible to obtain assistance?
A. Any member of a California Council with at least twelve months good standing who is in need of temporary assistance, and the widows and orphans of such members.
Q. How can California Columbian Charities help a Brother in need of assistance?
A. By issuing one-time grants to help relieve serious financial distress due to unemployment, sickness, family medical and hospital bills, overdue rent or mortgage payments, food, clothing, losses due to fire, flood or earthquake. The Charity’s mission is to provide the Brother and his family with their basic necessities. No grants will be issued if the Brother has other financial options, nor will a grant be issued to reduce debt.
Q. What is the first step to obtain aid for a Brother?
A. If you know of a Brother who is in need of assistance please notify his council’s Grand Knight. Only the Grand Knight can obtain an application from the California State
Council Office by sending an email to state.office@californiaknights.org
Q. What are the duties of the Investigator?
A. 1. The Investigator calls on the Brother who requires assistance, investigates his problem, fills out the application, answers all the applicable questions and obtains the applicant’s signature.
2. He drafts an unbiased letter explaining in detail the financial condition and
circumstances of the distressed Brother and family.
3. Upon completion of the investigation, he files the letter and application with the Grand Knight of the Council for review and signature of the Financial Secretary and Grand Knight.
Q. What are the Grand Knight’s and Financial Secretary’s obligations?
A. The Grand Knight acts as our preliminary screener and he is asked to endorse and forward only meritorious applications. He gives the application its initial review. His signature certifies that the application is complete, accurate and that the applicant has a genuine need for fraternal charitable benefits. The Financial Secretary certifies the applicant’s status and longevity in the Order and Council. The GK and FS names and signatures must be affixed to the form before sending the application to the Charity.
Q. Should the Grand Knight bring an applicant’s request to the Council for approval?
A. NO! ALL INFORMATION received by the Grand Knight is strictly confidential and
should be forwarded to the President of Columbian Charities for processing. However, the Grand Knight and his Council should consider assisting the needy applicant themselves.
Q. How long must an applicant wait before assistance is available?
A. That depends upon how quickly the investigation takes place and how quickly the Council’s Grand Knight forwards the application to Columbian Charities. After that, it is only a matter of a few days.
Q. Must an applicant re-pay the money to Columbian Charities?
A. NO! All financial assistance provided is a grant.
Q. How is the money obtained for these grants?
A. Through the generosity of California Councils and individual Brothers, and from special events sponsored by Council charity committees, and through bequests. Every member is asked to join the 365 Club and contribute at least one penny a day. The Charity fulfills the Knights of Columbus doctrine – BROTHER HELPING BROTHER.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE GRANT APPLICATION:
► All forms should be completely filled out in duplicate – keep a copy for reference.
► Fill-out and return the Contact Form so that we can communicate with you.
► Make sure that the Grand Knight’s phone number and email address are on the form.
► The application package contains detailed instructions.
► All applications are subject to review by the screening committee.
► The committee reserves the right to reject, approve, set limits, and set conditions on any and all applications.
Mail the application to:
CALIFORNIA COLUMBIAN CHARITIES, INC.
PO Box 2649
WEST COVINA, CA 91793-2649
BOARD MEMBERS
Stephen Bolton, PSD – President Rev. Raymund Reyes, State Chaplain – Associate Director
Steve Korsinen, DD – Vice President Bart Kinard, PCP- Secretary Jeffrey Lambert, PCP – Treasurer Ken Rose, ST – Asst. Treasurer Gregory Marracq, SD – Director
James Larson, SS – Director
Ray Warriner, PSD – President Emeritus
Stephen Peterson, FM – President Emeritus Andrew B. Garcia, PCP – President Emeritus Timothy Crews, PCP – Director Gerald Fong PCP – Director Dale Pittman PCP – Director Henry Tobias, CP – Director
Vladimir Rivera, SA – Associate Director T.W. Starkweather, SW – Associate Director Rene Trevino, IPSD – Associate Director Rod Olguin, PCP – Associate Director
California Columbian Charities, Inc.
The 365 Club and the Parade of Grand Knights are the primary means of raising funds for California Columbian Charities. We ask that every Brother in California join the 365 Club and donate a penny a day – either by adding an additional $3.65 (or more) to their dues payment, or by a cash donation at council meetings. The council should hold these funds until May when they can be brought to the State Convention and the Parade of Grand Knights.