The charitable gifts of an international Catholic service organization reached all-time record highs in 2003. The financial donations of its 1.7 million members—known for their commitment to charitable works—totaled $130 million.

Members also performed more than 61 million hours of volunteer service.

According to the Knights of Columbus’ annual Survey of Fraternal Activity, Knights at all levels reported raising and contributing to charity $130 million, $1.5 million more than the previous year.

The total includes $21.5 million disbursed by the Knights’ international office through various foundations, including funds earmarked for the pope, Christians in the Holy Land and the programs of the bishops’ conferences of the U. S., Canada and Mexico, among others.

In 2003 the Knights partnered with the Wheelchair Foundation to send several thousand wheelchairs to land mine victims and people with disabilities in Afghanistan and other Middle Eastern countries.

Additionally, working with the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, the Knights published 200,000 copies of a Catholic prayer book for U.S. troops stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

"Charity is the first lesson a member learns when he joins the Knights, and these figures show how much that means to him," said Carl A. Anderson, supreme knight of the Catholic fraternal benefit society and chief executive officer.

Knights of Columbus gifts went beyond money, as members reported volunteering an all-time high of 61 million hours of time in 2003.

"We are committed to our communities," said Anderson. "Whether it is volunteering at Special Olympics games, visiting veterans in hospitals, or helping out in our local Catholic parishes and schools, we seek to better the lives of our neighbors."

The Knights of Columbus is the largest Catholic family fraternal service organization. Through its more than 15,000 local units, it offers a wide variety of opportunities for volunteer service to the church and community.

Founded in New Haven, Conn. in 1882, the Knights of Columbus has members throughout North America, the Philippines and several other countries.

To learn more about the Knights of Columbus, please visit the Internet website at www.kofc.org.

This story provided by North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.