Contact: Heidi Peters
Phone: 414-278-6606
E-mail: heidi.peters@catholicknights.org
Milwaukee, Wis. – Catholic Knights and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul have formed a three-year partnership to serve the needs of the poor.
Catholic Knights considers “service to humanity” a core value that is everyone’s responsibility. With that in mind, Catholic Knights organization approached the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the international Catholic charitable organization.
Bill O’Toole, president and CEO of the Catholic Knights, described the partnership as “a natural expansion. Catholic Knights has been putting Catholic values in action for over 124 years. It’s the core of who we are as an organization. The most important aspect is we’re helping people.”
The joint agreement officially began on Jan. 1, 2009, but Catholic Knights has already begun to create excitement among its branches and members. The organization will provide up to $500 per year for each local Catholic Knights branch that dedicates time and fundraising efforts to St. Vincent de Paul Society councils or conferences. The money raised and matched will stay in the local community. Before the partnership began, Catholic Knights branches raised $19,500 and collected $4,330 in non-cash items for St. Vincent de Paul Society in 2008.
Archbishop Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is the spiritual director of the Catholic Knights. Archbishop Dolan said, “I commend Catholic Knights for getting involved with this new common cause partnership in helping the poor on our communities.”
“We know that we are not alone. We are part of an international society of friends united by a spirit of poverty, humility, and sharing, which is nourished by prayer and reflection, mutually supportive gatherings, and adherence to a basic Rule,” states Joe Flannigan, national council president for the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. “We’re thrilled to have Catholic Knights as our first ever national partner.”
About Catholic Knights
Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., Catholic Knights is a not-for-profit Catholic membership organization focused on putting Catholic values into action. For more than 120 years, Catholic Knights has put Catholic values into action through its charitable outreach, scholarship programs, trusted financial products, and support for parishes and parish schools, as well as opportunities for members to participate in making a difference in their parishes and communities. Each year, Catholic Knights members help to raise more than $1.2 million in support of parishes, schools and communities. For more information, visit http://www.catholicknights.org or call (800) 927-2547.
About the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul has been offering tangible assistance to those in need on a person-to-person basis for the past 175 years. This aid takes the form of intervention, consultation, or often through direct dollar or in-kind service. An essential guideline of the Society’s work is to provide help while conscientiously maintaining the confidentiality and dignity of those who are served. The Society also assumes the role of advocacy for those who are defenseless or voiceless. Some 12 million persons are helped annually by the Society in the United States. For more information on the St. Vincent de Paul Society, go to http://www.svdpusa.org
