American Wheelchair Mission
The American Wheelchair Mission is a non-profit organization and strategic partner of the Knights of Columbus that delivers free wheelchairs to children, teens and adults without mobility or the means to acquire a wheelchair.
Since 2003, Knights of Columbus have sponsored the delivery of over 100,000 brand new wheelchairs
to people around the world who are in dire need of mobility.
We deliver brand new, high quality wheelchairs only by entire sea containers.
The wheelchairs we deliver in 5 sizes (12, 14, 16, 18 & 20 inch seat widths) could sell for over $500 in a medical supply store, but because we purchase them in bulk and only ship them by 100 to 280 wheelchair containers from the factories directly to the country of destination, we can do this
at an average price of $150 each.
For entities interested in delivering an entire container of wheelchairs* a gift of $16,500 will deliver a shipping container of 100 pneumatic, mountain bike or 110 solid rubber tire wheelchairs to any location in the United States. A gift of $42,000 will deliver a container of 260 pneumatic, mountain bike tire or 280 solid rubber tire wheelchairs to any domestic location, or any country specified by the donor, from our list of approved destination countries. A logo or short text of the donor’s choice will be stitched onto the back of each wheelchair when sponsored by container. At retail, these containers of wheelchairs are valued at $55,000 and $140,000 (For special sizes or delivery locations prices may vary).
The wheelchairs we deliver allow children to go to school for the first time, adults to go to work to provide for their families, and the elderly to get out of a bed that they may have been confined in for many years at a time. We are answering the prayers of entire families.
Over 100 million people worldwide need a wheelchair but cannot afford one! Our gift answers prayers and delivers Hope, Dignity, Freedom and Independence.
We estimate that each wheelchair delivered changes and improves an average of 10 lives!
Since 2007, Knights across the United States have been having “Wheelchair Sunday” parish drives to raise funds for the delivery of wheelchairs. These drives have sponsored wheelchairs to Guatemala, Haiti, the Holy Land, Honduras, Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, United States and Vietnam. These drives are also extremely successful tools for recruiting new members. For more information, or to watch videos and download the “Wheelchair Sunday” handbook, please visit the Knights of Columbus page on our website at: www.amwheelchair.org, or contact:
Michael J. Costanza
Mobility Disabilities Chairman - Florida State Council
3821 Lapeer Avenue
North Port, FL 34287
kcdistrict51@yahoo.com
(941) 400-7416
* Donors wishing to fund full sea containers for a specific project have one full year to complete the project. After that, the funds may be used as undesignated in order to deliver wheelchairs to where they are most needed. Please contact us for more details and call with any questions.