LEADING WITH CHARITY

by Dennis J. Gerber, Jr
President and CEO, Knights of Columbus Charitable Fund

March invites us to reflect on the life of Blessed Michael McGivney, a parish priest whose simple response to the needs of his people gave birth to a global movement of Catholic charity.

When Father McGivney founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882 at St. Mary’s Parish in New Haven, he was not trying to build an institution. He was responding to the very real struggles of families in his parish. Widows were often left with nothing. Immigrant laborers worked dangerous jobs with little protection. Catholic men wanted to provide for their families while remaining faithful to the Church.

Out of those needs, the Knights were born.

Father McGivney understood something that remains true today: charity requires more than good intentions. It requires a structure that allows generosity to endure and grow.

That same spirit continues through the work of the Knights of Columbus Charitable Fund. KCCF exists to help donors live out Catholic generosity by providing faithful and thoughtful charitable solutions that serve the Church and those in need.

The tools of generosity have evolved over time. Donor-advised funds, endowment funds, and complex asset contributions now allow Catholic families to support ministries and causes around the world in ways that were unimaginable in Father McGivney’s time. Yet the heart of the mission remains the same: responding to the needs of the Church and the world through faithful charity.

For me personally, Blessed Michael McGivney has always been more than just the Founder of the Knights of Columbus.

His example has been a source of inspiration throughout the journey of building KCCF. From the very beginning, I have prayed daily for his intercession as we worked to create a platform that would serve Catholic generosity in a meaningful and lasting way.

Now, more than nine years and over $250 million in grants later, I still find myself turning to Blessed Michael McGivney in prayer. His life reminds us that great works of charity often begin quietly, with a simple desire to serve the people God has placed in front of us.

The continued growth of Catholic generosity through KCCF is a testament to the same spirit that animated Father McGivney more than 140 years ago. It is the spirit of faithful men and women who believe that their resources can be used to strengthen the Church and serve others.

I remain deeply grateful for his example and continue to ask for his intercession as this work moves forward.

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