District Web Resources

Some assemblies have mentioned they are having difficulty finding a needy priest or brother in need of a chalice. The following is a list of resources that might be useful:

PIME Fathers in Detroit

17330 Quincy
Detroit, MI 48221

Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions

https://pimeuse.org
pimeworld@pimeusa.org

Pallottine Fathers

3352 4th Street
Wyandotte, MI 48192

Pope John XXIII has sent many chalices to the Pallottine missionary priests in Africa.

https://www.irishpallottines.org

Manresa Jesuit Retreat House

1390 Quarton Rd
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304

Manresa has priests that come from a variety of locations around the world.

https://www.manresa-sj.org

Fr. Joe Hund, St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church

3501 N Miro St
New Orleans, LA 70117

Fr. Joe is a member of St. Paul of Tarsus council and brother of a district member.

https://smaneworleans.org
frjoe@smaneworleans.org

Missions International

Bishop Kelly assembly has photos of their chalices in huts in Africa.

https://www.missionsinternational.org

VSM Ed Ponder

The VSM in contact with a Maronite Rite Bishop from Lebanon who said that he would welcome any chalices we can send him. A priest in his diocese gets a salary of $30.00 a month. Click here to send the VSM an email if you are interested in donating any chalices.

Patriotic Charities - Veteran/Military/First Responder/Religious

The following is a non-inclusive list of patriotic charities. Note that mention of these does not imply support or endorsement of the Knights of Columbus for any of these organizations. Rather, this list is intended to provide a sampling of those organizations that support military, veterans and first responders and religious organizations that support them as well.

Catholic or Knights of Columbus

Archdiocese for Military Services, USA

PO Box 4469
Washington, DC 20017

https://www.milarch.org

We serve those who serve. The Archdiocese for Military Services receives no funding from the United States government, and, unlike a conventional diocese, the AMS has no parishes from which to draw financial resources. Her financial stability is entirely dependent on the financial support from military members, veterans, families, military Catholic communities, and chaplains.

EIN: 13-1624090

GuideStar - Not Rated
Charity Navigator: Not Rated

Father McGivney Military Chaplain Scholarship Fund

Knights of Columbus Charities, Inc.
P.O. Box 382154
Pittsburgh, PA 15251-8154
On the check's memo line: Military Chaplain's Scholarship Fund

Email: info@kofccharities.org
Phone: 800.694.5713

https://www.kofc.org/en/what-we-do/charity/father-mcgivney-military-chaplain-scholarship.html

Established in 2011, the Knights of Columbus Blessed Father McGivney Military Chaplains scholarship program helps fund the education of seminarians preparing to become Catholic chaplains in the U.S. Armed Forces.

EIN: 23-7227608

GuideStar - Not Rated
Charity Navigator: 3-Star

Warriors to Lourdes Pilgrimage Fund

Knights of Columbus Charities, Inc.
P.O. Box 382154
Pittsburgh, PA 15251-8154
On the check's memo line: Warriors to Lourdes Pilgrimage Fund

Email: info@kofccharities.org
Phone: 800.694.5713

Donate: https://www.warriorstolourdes.com/donate/
WTL About: https://www.warriorstolourdes.com
KofC About: https://www.kofc.org/en/what-we-do/charity/support-for-warriors-to-lourdes.html

EIN: 23-7227608

GuideStar - Not Rated
Charity Navigator: 3-Star

Local

Michigan Veterans Home at Chesterfield Township

47901 Sugarbush Rd
New Baltimore, MI 48047

https://www.michigan.gov/mvh

Michigan Veteran Homes, housed within the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, provides long-term skilled nursing care for veterans (and eligible family members) through a federal-state partnership with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

Vets Returning Home

17955 E Eleven Mile Rd
Roseville, MI 48066

http://www.vetsreturninghome.org

Vets Returning Home is a nonprofit and non-government funded organization dedicated to help our veterans transition into stable lives. The goal of Vets Returning Home is simple: to end chronic homelessness among veterans in our communities.

EIN: 46-3272647

GuideStar - Not Rated
Charity Navigator: 2-Star

Michigan Armed Forces Hospitality Center

7205 Sterling Ponds Ct
Sterling Hts, MI 48312

https://mifreedomcenter.org

The mission of the Michigan Armed Forces Hospitality Center is Serving Those Who Serve Us.

EIN: 45-2813231

GuideStar - Not Rated
Charity Navigator: 3-Star

Downriver For Veterans

2322 Northline Rd
Wyandotte, MI 48192

https://downriverforveterans.org

Downriver for Veterans is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to supporting local veterans in Downriver Michigan communities. We are dedicated to enhancing the pride and patriotism in all Michiganders by building a stronger, more supportive community around those who served us.

EIN: 38-4023548

GuideStar - Not Rated
Charity Navigator: 3-Star

Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America

46701 Commerce Center Drive
Plymouth, MI 48170

https://www.michiganpva.org

Michigan Paralyzed Veterans of America (MPVA) has served Michigan since 1961, "making a difference" in the lives of veterans, their families, and the public. We are a leadership organization reaching out on behalf of our members (veterans with spinal cord injury or disorders), associate members, and all people with disabilities to provide the highest possible quality of life in Michigan.

EIN: 13-1946868

GuideStar - Platinum (highest rating)
Charity Navigator: 4-Star (highest rating)

Michigan Bikers Helping Veterans

1645 Midland Rd
Saginaw, Mi 48638

http://www.supportmiveterans.org

We are the Michigan Bikers Helping Veterans (MBHV), a registered 501 (c) 3 non profit charity that receives donated funds to distribute here in Michigan to provide assistance to deserving families of the fallen and/or wounded service personnel, or Veterans in critical financial need. Each year we raise thousands of dollars by having events such as rides and raffles, or by displaying our fund raising booth at fairs, festivals, and bike shows around the state, and use that money to help many Michigan Heroes in need.

EIN: 20-8585750

GuideStar - Not Rated
Charity Navigator: Not Rated

Desert Angels, Inc

P.O. Box 210455
Auburn Hills, MI 48321-0455

http://thedesertangel.org/DABlue/

The Desert Angel is a faith ministry, meaning we are a strictly volunteer organization, funded totally by donations. We have no outside funding and an all-volunteer staff. Your generosity and support is so appreciated.

EIN: 20-8156884

GuideStar - Not Rated
Charity Navigator: Not Rated

State

Fisher House Michigan

PO Box 130466
Ann Arbor, MI 48113

https://www.fisherhousemichigan.org

A Fisher House is a “home away from home” where military and Veterans’ families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment.These homes are located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide, close to the medical center or hospital they serve. Fisher Houses typically have 16 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, a warm dining room and an inviting living room.

EIN: 81-2586691

GuideStar - Platinum (highest rating)
Charity Navigator: 4-Star (highest rating)

Blum’s Landing

7460 Ocqueoc Lake Rd
Millersburg, MI 49759

http://www.blumslanding.org

Blum’s Landing cordially welcomes you and your MOST immediate family to our home which serves as a free bed and breakfast retreat. Here you can enjoy the beauty and the tranquility of Northern Michigan. We are a 501-c3 Non Profit bed and breakfast for the military personnel and their families to relax, to recoup, and to re-energize from the stress of their current rehab and duties.

EIN: 26-2363640

GuideStar - Not Rated
Charity Navigator: Not Rated

National

Gary Sinise Foundation

P.O. Box 368
Woodland Hills, CA 91365

https://www.garysinisefoundation.org

At the Gary Sinise Foundation, we serve our nation by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. We do this by creating and supporting unique programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities. While we can never do enough to show gratitude to our nation's defenders, we can always do a little more.

EIN: 80-0587086

GuideStar - Gold
Charity Navigator: 4-Star (highest rating)

Wreaths Across America

PO Box 249
Columbia Falls, ME 04623

https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org
Note: Donations can be made to specific cemeteries in our area.

Remember the fallen. Honor those who serve. Teach the next generation the value of freedom.

EIN: 20-8362270

GuideStar - Platinum (highest rating)
Charity Navigator: 3-Star

Quilts of Valor Foundation

PO Box 191
Winterset, IA 50273

https://www.qovf.org
Note: They have local chapters as well that can be found through the website
https://www.qovf.org/about-qovf/whos-in-my-area/

The Mission of the Quilts of Valor® Foundation is to cover Service Members and Veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.

EIN: 20-2474691

GuideStar - Bronze
Charity Navigator: 4-Star (highest rating)

Operation Gratitude

PO Box 260257
Encino, CA 91426-0257

https://www.operationgratitude.com

Operation Gratitude provides opportunities for the American people to express their gratitude and show our Military and first responders that what they do matters. Since 2003, with the help of our nationwide network of Volunteers, we have sent a total of 4 million Care Packages containing carefully chosen items meant to boost the morale and resilience of our service members and give them warm reminders of home. Today we send up to 200,000 Care Packages per year, and we are committed to growing that number to over 1 million per year by 2027.

EIN: 20-0103575

GuideStar - Not Rated
Charity Navigator: 4-Star (highest rating)

Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation

2361 Hylan Blvd
Staten Island, NY 10306

https://t2t.org

Since 9/11, we have been helping America’s heroes by providing mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children and by building specially-adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. We are also committed to eradicating veteran homelessness and helping America to Never Forget September 11, 2001.

EIN: 02-0554654

GuideStar - Not Rated
Charity Navigator: 4-Star (highest rating)

Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation

12735 Gran Bay Pkwy #150
Jacksonville, FL 32258

https://firehousesubsfoundation.org

Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation was founded in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Firehouse Subs co-founders, Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen, traveled to Mississippi where they fed first responders as well as survivors. As they traveled back to Florida exhausted and exhilarated, they knew we could do more and the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation was born. Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation is dedicated to impact the life-saving capabilities and the lives of local heroes and their communities.

EIN: 20-3588745

GuideStar - Platinum (highest rating)
Charity Navigator: 4-Star (highest rating)

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

P.O. Drawer 498
Emmitsburg, MD 21727

https://www.firehero.org

Our mission is to honor America's fallen fire heroes; support their families, colleagues, and organizations; and work to reduce preventable firefighter death and injury.

EIN: 52-1832634

GuideStar - Platinum (highest rating)
Charity Navigator: 4-Star (highest rating)

First Responders Children’s Foundation

38 East 32nd Street, Suite 602
New York, NY 10016-5566

https://1strcf.org

First Responders Children’s Foundation provides financial support to children who have lost a parent in the line of duty as well as families enduring significant financial hardship due to tragic circumstances. First Responders Children’s Foundation also supports, promotes, and facilitates educational activities and programs created and operated by first responder organizations whose purpose is to benefit children or the community at large.

EIN: 05-0536854

GuideStar - Platinum (highest rating)
Charity Navigator: 4-Star (highest rating)

Folds of Honor Foundation

Department 13
Tulsa, OK 74182

https://foldsofhonor.org

Since 2007, the Folds of Honor has carried forth this singular, noble mission, to provide educational scholarships for the spouses and children of fallen and disabled service members. As of 2022, we expanded our mission to include the families of America's first responders.

EIN: 75-3240683

GuideStar - Platinum (highest rating)
Charity Navigator: 4-Star (highest rating)

Assembly Awards

To Be a Patriot Award

Administered by: Supreme
Due: April 30
Submit to: District Master and keep copy for assembly file
Description: Competition to determine the best patriotic programs during a given fraternal year will be held on the district and provincial levels of the Fourth Degree. To enter the competition, each assembly must submit a report on their single best patriotic activity on form #TBP-2 to their District Master. The award is based upon a single patriotic project or activity conducted by an assembly during the fraternal year. (See the TBP-2 form for all details.)
Note: Required for Star Assembly Award (also administered by Supreme).

Example Submissions
Gently Used Coat Collection
Snacks and Drink Collection for VA Hosptial
Comfort Items for VA Hospital
Veterans Steak Dinner
First Responder Picnic
Trash Pickup
Veteran Grave Cleanup
Flag Retirement

Note: This will get the most recent form from the KofC Supreme website.

Civic Award

Administered by: Supreme
Due: June 30
Submit to: fraternalmission@kofc.org, District Master, VSM and assembly file
Description: Those assemblies deemed outstanding in their implementation of an agenda of patriotic programming for the fraternal year are eligible to receive the Supreme Council’s CIVIC AWARD. This award is a tribute to the spirit of patriotism and national pride exemplified by the assembly’s program of activities. Those assemblies winning the award should display it with justifiable pride. In order to qualify for the Civic Award, the assembly must conduct and report at least four varied patriotic programs held within the fraternal year. Please note that assembly programs must be patriotic in nature. Programs must be reported on this Civic Award application, completed by the faithful navigator and submitted to: Knights of Columbus Supreme Council, Department of Fraternal Mission, 1 Columbus Plaza, New Haven, CT 06510-3326 (See the 2321 form for all details.)
Note: Required for Star Assembly Award (also administered by Supreme).

Example Submissions
Gently Used Coat Collection
Snacks and Drink Collection for VA Hosptial
Comfort Items for VA Hospital
Veterans Steak Dinner
First Responder Picnic
Trash Pickup
Veteran Grave Cleanup
Flag Retirement

Note: This will get the most recent form from the KofC Supreme website.

RSVP (Refund Support Vocations Program) Refund and Plaque Application

Administered by: Supreme
Due: June 30
Submit to: fraternalmission@kofc.org, District Master, VSM, state vocations chairman and assembly file
Description: Under this program, local K of C councils or assemblies agree to make an annual contribution of $500 or more to an individual seminarian to help with his expenses. Councils and assemblies can sponsor more than one seminarian if their resources permit. In each case, the minimum annual contribution is $500 per seminarian. For every $500 donated, the council or assembly is eligible for a refund of $100 from the Supreme Council. The maximum refund a council or assembly can receive is $400 per individual supported. For circles of Columbian Squires, the annual contribution per seminarian is a minimum of $100, with each circle eligible to receive from the Supreme Council a refund of $20 for each $100 contributed. (See the 2863A form for all details.)

Note: This will get the most recent form from the KofC Supreme website.

Star Assembly Award

Administered by: Supreme
Due: June 30
Submit to: No submission required; Supreme will make inquiries of the District Master for those items for which it does not have information.
Description: Requirements are as follows:

Publish a monthly newsletter or bulletin
Submit the annual survey of fraternal activity #1728 due January 31
Enter the "To Be A Patriot" competition (April 30)
Earn the Fourth Degree Civic Award (June 30)
Meet the assembly new member goal of 7%
Submit the report of officers #186 due July 1
Submit Assembly audit form #1315 due August 1

(See the memo from the Supreme Master for all details.)

Sir Knight of the Year Award

Administered by: District and Province
Due: August 15
Submit to: District Master and assembly file
Description: Each assembly has the opportunity to submit one individual as their Sir Knight of the year. This Sir Knight should have made significant contributions and had significant participation in assembly programs and activities, patriotic programs and activities, as well as community, church and order programs and activities.
The application must be completed, in full, supporting documentation attached and signed by the Faithful Navigator. The application should be submitted to the Master of District #1 by August 15. (See the District Sir Knight of the Year form for all details.)
Note: The District Master will select one winner from all the forms submitted and will forward this to the vice supreme master. (This will be the district winner.) The VSM will then select one winner from the forms submitted to him (this will be the provincial winner).

Lady of the Year Award

Administered by: District and Province
Due: August 15
Submit to: District Master and assembly file
Description: Each assembly has the opportunity to submit one individual as their Lady of the year. This Lady should have made significant contributions and had significant participation in assembly and patriotic programs and activities, as well as community, church and fraternal order programs and activities.
The application must be completed, in full, supporting documentation attached and signed by the Faithful Navigator. The application should be submitted to the Master of District #1 by August 15. (See the District Lady of the Year form for all details.)
Note: The District Master will select one winner from all the forms submitted and will forward this to the vice supreme master. (This will be the district winner.) The VSM will then select one winner from the forms submitted to him (this will be the provincial winner).

District Ladies Program of the Year Award

Administered by: District and Province
Due: August 15
Submit to: District Master and assembly file
Description: Each assembly has the opportunity to submit one ladies program for consideration for District Ladies Program of the Year. Programs can include those that occurred in conjunction with a meeting, as a separate event, as part of an exemplification, etc. Topics could be related to the fraternal order, patriotism, the Catholic Church, the Catholic faith, families, civic, etc.
The application must be completed, in full, supporting documentation attached and signed by the Faithful Navigator. The application should be submitted to the Master of District #1 by August 15. (See the District Ladies Program of the Year form for all details.)
Note: The District Master will select one winner from all the forms submitted and will forward this to the vice supreme master. (This will be the district winner.) The VSM will then select one winner from the forms submitted to him (this will be the provincial winner).

Red, White and Blue Award

Administered by: District
Due: August 15
Submit to: District Master and assembly file
Description: Those Assemblies deemed outstanding in their implementation of the agenda of the Patriotic Degree for 2022-2023 fraternal year are eligible to receive the Michigan District #1 RED, WHITE AND BLUE AWARD. This award is a tribute to the spirit of patriotism, national pride and to an outstanding program of activities. Those assemblies winning this award should display it with justifiable pride. In order to qualify for the Red, White and Blue Award, the Assembly must complete activities on time and meet their membership quota for the fraternal year. The application must be completed, in full, supporting documentation attached and signed by the Faithful Navigator. The application should be submitted to the Master of District #1 by August 15, 2023. (See the Red, White and Blue form for all details.)
NOTE: The last year for this award is the 2022-2023 Fraternal Year. It will be replaced with the District Master Award for the 2023-2024 Fraternal Year.

Download MSWord Version

District Master Award

Administered by: District
Due: August 15
Submit to: District Master and assembly file
Description: Those Assemblies deemed having a well-run assembly and outstanding in their implementation of the agenda of the Patriotic Degree for the fraternal year are eligible to receive the Michigan District #1 District Master Award. This award recognizes the efforts of the having a well-run assembly that participates in fraternal activites, patriotic activities and keeps their membership informed of these activities. Those assemblies winning this award should display it with justifiable pride.
In order to qualify for the District Master Award, the Assembly must complete activities on time, keep their membership informed, and recruit at least one new member for the fraternal year. The application must be completed, in full, supporting documentation attached and signed by the Faithful Navigator. The application should be submitted to the Master of District #1 by August 15. (See the District Master Award form for all details.)
NOTE: This award will first be awarded for the 2023-2024 Fraternal Year. This award replaces the Red, White and Blue Award.

Master's Staff

District Friar: Rev. Paul Ballien

Master: Gene Suchyta

Sr. Marshal: George Roumaya

Marshal: Curt Best

Marshal: Bob Greening

Marshal: Dale Miller

Comptroller: Norm Pranger

Email: Click on any name listed under Master's Staff

Phone: 734.748.2644

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