Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded by Michael J. McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1882, it was named in honor of the explorer Christopher Columbus. Originally serving as a mutual benefit society to working-class and immigrant Catholics in the United States, it developed into a fraternal benefit society dedicated to providing charitable services, including war and disaster relief, actively defending Catholicism in various nations, and promoting Catholic education.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS IS A CATHOLIC FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO PROMOTING AND CONDUCTING EDUCATIONAL, CHARITABLE, RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL WELFARE WORKS, RENDERING MUTUAL AID AND ASSISTANCE TO SICK AND NEEDY MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.