The Knights of Columbus is a fraternal Catholic men’s organization dedicated to the principles of faith, charity, unity and patriotism. In 2010, the worldwide organization gave over $154 million dollars to charitable organizations as well as 70 million man hours of voluntary service. Locally, the Rensselaer Bishop Dwenger Council 1881 donated close to $10,000 to local organizations in Rensselaer and Jasper County.

The main revenue source to allow us to support charitable organizations is our Friday night fish fry. These are conducted throughout the year. Many of you have supported our efforts by either attending our fish fries or by renting the use of our facility for meetings, parties or receptions. Thanks you for your past support. We would like to encourage you to continue to patronize our fish fry events and rent our facility so we can continue to do our charitable work.

If you have not been to one of our fish fries recently, we would like to ask you to join us and check out our new menu offerings. It is not just fried fish anymore. Also, if you are looking for a place to hold a special event, please contact us to learn more about all the options we have to offer. Your support will help us continue one of our most important principles, that being charity. Some of the pas recipients of our council’s donations have been:

· St. Augustine Catholic Church- Monetary donations have been made to the Parish Endowment Fund, as well as the Window/Church Restoration Project. Many of our members have served or currently serve on various boards for the church, Parish Council, Finance Committee, Buildings and Grounds Committee, Christmas Church Decoration Committee, Susan Street Sidewalk repair project, Herman Nagel Scholarship Fund, Religious Education, Youth Group, Bazaar, etc.

· St. Augustine Catholic School-Monetary donations have been made for many projects and the proceeds from our Ash Wednesday fish fry are donated to the school. We have donated the use of our facilities for the Spring Fling, Annual pancake breakfast, Boy Scout events, Chili Cook-off, etc. over the years.

· Jasper County CDC- Tootsie Roll Drive

· American Red Cross Blood Drive- we allow the Red Cross to use our hall 4 time a year for blood drives

· RCHS- help fund the after prom party

· Jasper County Habitat for Humanity

· Rensselaer Park System

· Rensselaer Birth Right- Proceeds from Good Friday fish fry

· Right to Life

· RCMS- host the 8^th grade Annual Washington DC breakfast and prepare the food

· Jasper County Crisis Center

· Save Our Seminarians Fund

· Gibault School/Jasper County Youth Center

· Jr. Bomber Basketball

· Jasper County 4-H Council

· Jasper County Hospital Foundation

· Rensselaer K9 Unit

· Provide two annual $500 Scholarships for college