HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2002-4721, by Representatives Dunn, Sullivan, Reardon, Ahern and Mulliken

       WHEREAS, The Order of the Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal organization which originated in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1882; and

       WHEREAS, The Order of the Knights of Columbus was founded upon the bedrock principles of "Charity" and "Unity" to which it remains true today; and

       WHEREAS, The Order of the Knights of Columbus consists of Catholic gentlemen committed to the exemplification of works of compassion, fraternity, and patriotism; and

       WHEREAS, The Order of the Knights of Columbus has more than 10,500 fraternal councils active in 13 countries; and

       WHEREAS, The Order of the Knights of Columbus now numbers over 1.6 million members worldwide, with over 14,000 members residing in the State of Washington; and

       WHEREAS, The Order of the Knights of Columbus is firmly committed to the protection and care of life and to the preservation and defense of the family; and

       WHEREAS, The Order of the Knights of Columbus' central mission is striving in charitable works in their communities and churches by giving aid to widows, orphans, the sick, and the poor, and acting for the good of their country and

       WHEREAS, The Order of the Knights of Columbus sponsors the charity known as the Special Olympics in which children of all creeds and nationalities who suffer certain handicaps are brought together to compete in sports as they are able to participate and in a free-throw contest open to all in four different age brackets competing for local, regional, and national honors; and

       WHEREAS, The Order of the Knights of Columbus gives aid to victims of natural disasters, refurbishes homesteads of widows and handicapped with painting, roofing, and general repair, and collects and distributes food, used clothing, and useable furniture for those in need, such as in the recent flooding of Tillamook County; and

       WHEREAS, The Order of the Knights of Columbus has donated nearly $1 billion to numerous charitable causes and nearly 400 million hours of volunteer service over the past decade; and

       WHEREAS, The Order of the Knights of Columbus in 2001 gave charitable contributions of $35.7 million for Church activities and programs, $48.5 million for community support, and $14 million in direct youth support funding within the United States; and

       WHEREAS, The Order of the Knights of Columbus has contributed checks in the amount of $3,000 to 417 widows or survivors of those relief workers killed in the September 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, with such financial support ongoing to those who are still being identified, regardless of whether or not the deceased was affiliated with the Order of the Knights of Columbus; and

       WHEREAS, The Order of the Knights of Columbus' volunteer time exceeds 56.7 million man hours in food banks, charitable support groups, as well as community and church functions; and

       WHEREAS, The first council of the Order of the Knights of Columbus in Washington was established on June 22, 1902, making this their centennial year in Washington state;

       NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the State of Washington recognize and honor the Washington state chapter of the Order of the Knights of Columbus and all its members for the 100 years of extraordinary contributions they have made in financial support and charitable works to the church, our communities, and our state for the care of widows, orphans, the sick, and the poor; and

       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Wayne Hogan, State Deputy, Washington State Council, Order of the Knights of Columbus.

              I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

              4721 Resolution adopted by the House of Representatives

                                  March 1, 2002.

                           _____________________________

                           Cynthia Zehnder, Chief Clerk