My Worthy Brothers,

As your chapter, district and councils plan Faith in Action activities for the new Columbian Year, please be sure to include the Annual Fund Drive for People With Intellectual Disabilities.  The official dates for the drive this year are October 21, 22 and 23, 2022 (although councils are free to schedule and hold a fundraiser benefiting organizations serving people with intellectual disabilities at any time during the year).  Be sure and bring this program up for discussion at future business meetings.  For those councils who are participating, please have them complete and return the attached Council Chairman Form or submit his contact information online by clicking here.

I urge you to take a few moments to read through the attached guidebook describing the program.  One or more organizations in your local community serving people with intellectual disabilities would definitely benefit from the charitable efforts of the councils in your area.  Many have perhaps already identified such organizations.  They include Special Olympics, the ARC (for people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities), Camp Recreations, local schools, independent living and residential care facilities.  Further information and resources regarding the program may be obtained by clicking here.

For those desiring to hold the traditional “Tootsie Roll Drive”, Tootsie Rolls with the Knights of Columbus emblem can be ordered directly from the Tootsie Roll Company using the form attached.  Oakland Chapter also has over 300 cases on hand and will ship anywhere in the state.  They are making the Tootsie Rolls available at their cost which is $19.50 a case, plus any shipping costs for delivery.  Contact Brother Robert Burnside at rjfb@pacbell.net.

Many, many Knights of Columbus councils have and continue to support this program, which has been in existence since 1987.  We are looking forward to making Columbian Year 2022-2023 the best year ever!  To download a short video describing the program you can show at a chapter, district or council meeting, click here.  Look for future communications regarding the Annual Fund Drive for People With Intellectual Disabilities.

May God bless,

Dave Abbott, Past State Deputy
2022 Intellectual Disabilities Drive Chairman
id.drive@californiaknights.org