We are proud to continue our tradition of honoring our immediate Past Grand Knight by purchasing wheelchairs in his name for needy people through the American Wheelchair Mission.

We were fortunate to have Worthy PGK Tim McDonald lead our Council for the past two fraternal years. His dedication to the principles of our Order was shown in many ways, including promoting works of charity and community service, and providing leadership for our many functions and numerous initiatives over the past two years. 

As is our tradition, to honor Tim as our outgoing PGK at our Annual Dinner Dance and Awards Ceremony, we will present him with the gift of wheelchairs donated in his name to people in need.

Each wheelchair costs $150, and we encourage our members to consider purchasing one. However, we can also combine smaller donations to purchase wheelchairs, so every donation helps us achieve our goal.

If you can participate, please mail or hand a check for $10 to any of the members of the Wheelchair Committee listed below. Please make it payable to the "American Wheelchair Mission." If in the kindness of your heart you are able to give more, it would be deeply appreciated. Every donation is tax deductible.

Please make your donation by no later than September 1st, 2024. The Committee will put all the checks into one envelope and mail them to the American Wheelchair Mission. Because it takes at least a month to get the donor folders back from them, we need to send in the donations well in advance of The Annual to ensure the acknowledgments arrive on time. So please don’t delay, and thank you in advance for your generosity!

Please see "The Backstory" immediately below to learn more about how this program began (and has taken-off) in our Council, why it has been named in honor of PGK Mike McDonald, and also about how your donation to the American Wheelchair Mission helps people in need right here at home and around the world.

Fraternally,

The Council 6318 Wheelchair Committee

Co-Chairmen

• Dennis O’Connor - 11 Baldwin Road, Carmel NY 10512 
• William Richmond - 152 Kentview Drive, Carmel NY 10512

Committee Members:

• GK Rick Kreps - 23 Purchase Rd, Carmel NY 10512
• Jim Carey - 10 Nelson Court, Carmel NY 10512 
• Michael Antezzo - 43 Leeside Drive, Carmel NY 10512
• Phil Larkin - 383 Nichols Street, Carmel NY 10512 
• Michael McDonald - 14 West Collier Drive, Carmel NY 10512
• Edward McKinley - 1 Purchase Road, Carmel NY 10512 

The Backstory

Our Council's Program

The American Wheelchair Mission arranges for the distribution of a wheelchair for every $150 in donations. The Knights of Columbus is a major partner in this program, and our Supreme Knight sits on their Board of Directors. Also, the president of this organization is Chris Lewis (son of actor Jerry Lewis), who is a Fourth Degree Knight.

Eighteen years ago, when Mike McDonald stepped down as Grand Knight after fulfilling part of his predecessor's term and Mike's own two, one-year terms of office, brother Knights Bill Richmond and Dennis O'Connor proposed that Mike’s tenacity and dedication should be remembered with a gift in his name. Our Council surprised PGK Mike with a gift of four wheelchairs, which were given in his honor to recipients in developing countries. This is why our PGK wheelchair fundraiser was recently named, by vote of the membership, in honor of PGK Mike McDonald.

That initial award has turned into a tradition that continues today. Every two years, the Council has honored the immediate Past Grand Knight with a donation of wheelchairs. Six years ago when we honored PGK Rob Firriolo, we collected $1,500, which enabled us to purchase nine wheelchairs. Four years ago, we honored PGK Steve Gheduzzi by raising $3,795, which allowed us to purchase 27 wheelchairs. Two years ago, we honored PGK Ralph Fleischman and we set yet another record, raising $5,680, enough to purchase 37 wheelchairs! Let's break that record and collect enough for forty wheelchairs (or more) this year!

GK Rick Kreps extends the gratitude of the entire Council to the Committee, and especially to co-Chairmen Bill Richmond and Dennis O'Connor, for keeping this tradition alive and making it a greater success each time we do it for our PGKs.

How Do Wheelchairs Make a Difference?

To answer that question, start by checking out this heartwarming video from Supreme Council about the important work done by the Global Wheelchair Mission and the ways they have changed people's lives for the better. It is only four minutes long but well worth watching!

Next, check out these facts: It is estimated that more than 100 million people throughout the world are in need of a wheelchair but cannot afford one. These people cannot be helped by canes, crutches, walkers, or prosthetics. A wheelchair is their only hope for mobility. On average, developing countries around the world have about three percent of their population physically disabled and unable to afford a wheelchair.

It may be hard for us, living in the nice areas that we do, to imagine that there are people in other parts of the world who cannot leave their homes unless someone can physically carry them outside. The delivery of wheelchairs to physically disabled people allows children to go to school, adults to go to work and provide for their families, and the elderly to get out of a bed they may have stayed in for years at a time.

But a wheelchair does not only change the life of the recipient. It is estimated that an average of ten lives are improved by the delivery of each wheelchair. Families can attend worship services and social gatherings together; people who have crawled on the floor or ridden on a skateboard can now look others in the eye for the first time and feel dignity. The prayers of entire families are answered with the gift of a wheelchair.

Since 2003, the Knights of Columbus has funded the delivery of tens of thousands of wheelchairs around the world, and right here at home. Thousands of veterans and their families across the United States in need of wheelchairs have received new mobility, and honor the Knights with their thanks and prayers. Knights and their families are getting involved in a hands-on, life-changing mission that allows children, teens and adults around the world to have their prayers answered with the gift of hope, freedom, dignity, independence…a wheelchair!

Thanks for reading, and please send in your donation today!