Supreme Knight Carl Anderson announces Summit on Volunteerism | Press Releases

K of C leader says charities must increase volunteer activity in time of financial crisis

With the charitable giving index down 22 percent, and the economic crisis affecting nonprofit organizations nationwide, Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, will call for a summit of charitable and volunteer organizations to be held in New York City next month.

In a speech Jan. 23 at Fairfield University, Fairfield CT, Anderson will invite the nation's top charitable and volunteer organizations to attend a summit on Feb. 27 on volunteerism and the charitable response to the economic crisis. The summit will be co-sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the Fairfield University Center for Faith and Public Life.

The speech will also encourage charitable organizations to work together with the new administration to emphasize and create opportunities for volunteers, especially at a time when financial donations to charity are decreasing.

Speaking just days after the Jan. 19 National Day of Service, Mr. Anderson will also call for Americans to take the spirit of that day forward and to make 2009 "the year of the volunteer."

"Government and charities must work together for the good of our country, and in difficult economic times, that means creating opportunities for Americans to give of their time and talent, as well as their treasure" said Anderson. "People may be unable to donate $50 or $100 dollars to charity, but everyone can certainly spend an extra hour a week - that's less than ten minutes a day - doing something for the good of his or her neighbor."

Anderson is the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus and the author of last year's New York Times bestseller A Civilization of Love (HarperOne).

The Knights of Columbus is one of the nation's most active volunteer organizations, and is the world's largest lay Catholic organization. It counts more than 1.75 million members worldwide organized into more than 13,000 councils. Last year Knights donated more than $144 million and more than 68 million hours to charity.

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