Knights Raised Money for Medical Expenses and College Fund for Victim's Daughter

Contact: Andrew Walther, 203-824-5412, andrew.walther@kofc.org; Matthew St. John, 203-584-6129, matthew.stjohn@kofc.org; both with Knights of Columbus

SAN ANTONIO, Aug. 8, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Knights of Columbus has honored Baileyville Knights Council 13087 in Baileyville, Kan., for its charitable outreach.

The council was awarded the 2013 International Family Activity Award at the 131st annual international convention of the Knights of Columbus held in San Antonio this week.

When Ryan Sextro was diagnosed with cancer and passed away at age 27, Knights in Council 13087 raised funds for his medical expenses and to start a college fund for his four-year-old daughter, Sydney. The council organized a softball tournament and hosted a barbeque pork supper that drew 1,000 guests and featured a silent auction and raffle.

Nearly the entire council participated, and $30,450 was raised.

The Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by Father Michael McGivney, a parish priest in New Haven, Conn. With charity as its central commitment, the organization has grown to 1.8 million members worldwide. During the past year, Knights donated more than $167.5 million and more than 70 million hours of service to charitable causes.