Columbian Charities

  1. Who is eligible to obtain assistance?
  2. Any member of a California Council with at least twelve months good standing who is in need of temporary assistance, and the widows and orphans of such members.
  3. How can California Columbian Charities help a Brother in need of assistance?
  4. By helping to relieve financial distress due to unemployment, sickness, family medical and hospital bills, overdue rent or mortgage payments, property tax, food, clothing, losses due to fire, flood or earthquake.

 

California Columbian Charities provides assistance to Brothers who are suffering financial hardship. We need your generous charitable and fraternal support to continue assisting Brothers in distress. For the last four years donations to the charity have been much less than what is required to meet the needs of the many Brothers who are suffering because of our poor economy.  Every Knight is asked to join the 365 Club and contribute at least one penny a day.

 

CALIFORNIA COLUMBIAN CHARITIES, INC.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR GRAND KNIGHTS –
HOW TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE


  1. Who is eligible to obtain assistance?
  2. Any member of a California Council with at least twelve months good standing who is in need of temporary assistance, and the widows and orphans of such members.
  3. How can California Columbian Charities help a Brother in need of assistance?
  4. By helping to relieve financial distress due to unemployment, sickness, family medical and hospital bills, overdue rent or mortgage payments, property tax, food, clothing, losses due to fire, flood or earthquake.
  5. What is the first step to obtain aid for a Brother?
  6. If you know of a Brother who is in need of assistance please notify his council’s Grand Knight. Only the Grand Knight can obtain an application from the California State Council Office: 15808 Arrow Blvd., Suite A, Fontana, CA 92335-3246 (909) 434-0460, state.office@kofc-ca.org
  7. What are the duties of the Investigator?
  8. 1. The Investigator calls on the Brother requiring assistance, investigates his problem, fills out the application, answers all the applicable questions and obtains the applicant’s signature.
  9. He drafts a letter explaining in detail the distressed financial condition of the Brother and family.
  10. Upon completion of the investigation he files the letter and application with the Grand Knight of the Council for review and signature of the Financial Secretary and Grand Knight.
  11. What are the Grand Knight’s and Financial Secretary’s obligations?
  12. The Grand Knight and Financial Secretary of the Council must determine that the application is meritorious and affix their signatures to the form before sending the application to the Charity.
  13. Should the Grand Knight bring an applicant’s request to the Council for approval?
  14. NO! ALL INFORMATION received by the Grand Knight is strictly confidential and should be forwarded to the President of Columbian Charities for processing. However, the Grand Knight and his Council should consider assisting the needy applicant themselves.
  15. How long must an applicant wait before assistance is available?
  16. That depends upon how quickly the investigation takes place and how quickly the Council’s Grand Knight forwards the application to Columbian Charities. After that, it is only a matter of a few days.
  17. Must an applicant re-pay the money to Columbian Charities?
  18. NO! All financial assistance provided is a grant.
  19. How is the money obtained for these grants?
  20. Through the generosity of California Councils and individual Brothers, and from special events sponsored by Council charity committees, and through bequests. Every member is asked to join the 365 Club and contribute at least one penny a day. The Charity is BROTHER HELPING BROTHER.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE GRANT APPLICATION:

► Both forms must be completely filled out in duplicate. The application contains detailed instructions.

► Make sure that the Grand Knight’s phone number is on the form.

► All applications are subject to review by the screening committee.

► The committee reserves the right to reject, approve, set limits, and set conditions on any and all applications. Using the envelope supplied, mail the application to:

CALIFORNIA COLUMBIAN CHARITIES, INC.
PO Box
4256
CERRITOS
, CA 90703