SENATE RESOLUTION

                             8764

By Senators Deccio, Sheahan and Sheldon, B.

     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 thirteen 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 in 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 Washington State Senate recognize and honor the Washington State Chapter of the Order of the Knights of Columbus and all its members for the one hundred years of extraordinary contributions they have made in financial support and charitable works to 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 Secretary of the Senate to Wayne Hogan, State Deputy, Washington State Council, Order of the Knights of Columbus.

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8764,

adopted by the Senate February 28, 2002.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate