Who We Are

Knights of Columbus Florida State Council – Serving with Faith and Impact

From the beginning the Knights of Columbus have live out their Catholic faith by helping others: caring for families, defending life, and supporting the Church.

As Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly reminds us, “Together, we build up families, parishes, and communities that are centered on Christ. In other words, everything we do is meant to share Christ’s love and bring people together in faith.

Florida’s Measurable Impact

• Generous Giving and Tireless Service
  Florida Knights consistently rank among the most active jurisdictions in charitable giving and volunteer service. In 2023 alone, Florida councils reported hundreds of thousands of dollars in charitable donations and tens of thousands of service hours, supporting statewide and local causes like food drives, disaster response, pregnancy resource centers, and more.
• Faith in Action at Every Level
  With over 400 active councils and more than 54,000 members, the Florida State Council brings the Knights’ mission to every corner of the state. Local councils lead parish ministries, mentor youth, strengthen families, and carry out the Order’s core values of charity, unity, and fraternity.
• Growing Our Brotherhood
  Florida welcomed over 2,100 new members in the past year, reflecting a vibrant, growing brotherhood rooted in faith and service. Councils continue to expand with active recruitment, spiritual formation, and programs that bring men closer to Christ.

Florida Leadership in Key Programs

• Coats for Kids
  Florida councils have distributed thousands of winter coats to children in need across the state. Events held in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville have helped ensure that no child goes without warmth during the winter months.
• Culture of Life: Ultrasounds & ASAP Support
  Florida has played a key role in the Knights’ national Ultrasound Initiative. To date, Florida councils have helped place over 90 ultrasound machines in pregnancy resource centers statewide.
  Through the Aid and Support After Pregnancy (ASAP) initiative, Florida councils raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for maternity homes, mobile pregnancy units, and life-affirming ministries throughout the state.
• Disaster Relief in Florida Communities
  When hurricanes strike, the Knights in Florida respond immediately. After Hurricanes Ian and Idalia, councils partnered with parishes and Catholic Charities to distribute food, water, cleanup supplies, and emergency aid. In 2023, Florida Knights organized recovery efforts that included home repairs, school rebuilding, and direct assistance to displaced families.
• Food for Families & Local Charity
  In 2023, Florida councils contributed over $1 million in food donations and thousands of volunteer hours to food pantries and community kitchens across the state. These efforts directly supported Florida families facing food insecurity.
• Special Olympics: Champions for Inclusion
  Florida Knights proudly stand as major partners of Special Olympics Florida. In 2023, councils across the state raised and donated over $450,000 to support year-round training and competition for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Knights also serve as volunteers, event organizers, and advocates for inclusion — helping make Florida one of the top Special Olympics contributors in the nation.
• Commitment to Vocations
  The Florida State Council strongly supports the future of the Church through its Vocations Fund, which offers financial assistance to seminarians, postulants, and religious aspirants. Each year, councils hold fundraising campaigns, vocational dinners, and parish appeals to promote the call to the priesthood and religious life. In 2023, the Florida Knights provided over $100,000 in vocations support, while also praying regularly for those discerning their calling. Many councils also “adopt a seminarian” to maintain ongoing prayer and financial support throughout their formation journey.

Looking Ahead: Florida’s Role in the Future of the Order

• Doubling Our Impact
  The Florida State Council has accepted the Supreme Knight’s challenge to double our outreach through programs like Coats for Kids and ASAP. Councils statewide are setting bold new goals and launching impactful parish-based efforts.
• The Cor Initiative and Faith Formation
  Florida is among the leaders in launching the Cor initiative, helping Catholic men grow in discipleship and spiritual brotherhood. Many councils have started weekly prayer groups, Bible studies, and family-centered faith programs to build up the domestic church in our communities.

Join Us in the Mission

Whether distributing food, helping hurricane victims, defending life, supporting vocations, or standing with Special Olympics athletes, Florida Knights live out the Gospel every day. Every act of service is rooted in our shared faith and guided by the belief that:

“There is no greater task than serving others in Christ’s name.”

We invite every Catholic man in Florida to become a Knight and help us build a brighter future — for our families, our parishes, and our state.

Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly often reminds us: “There is no greater task… it requires sacrifice and sometimes even suffering. But that’s what it means to be a disciple… That’s what it means to be on mission”. In plain terms, Knights of Columbus is a brotherhood of Catholic men who invite each other to faith and friendship, then reach out to build up their churches, families and communities. We pray together, but we also do together – collecting coats, building houses, fighting for life, and feeding the hungry – all in the name of Christ.

In summary: The Knights of Columbus is about living our faith through love and service. Every year, Knights give away hundreds of millions of dollars and millions of volunteer hours. We support the Church, defend life, and serve our neighbors – from helping the poor in our own town to aiding refugees across the globe. In Kelly’s words, we’re “Knights on a mission” – bringing hope and Christ’s joy to those we serve.

How to Donate

Make Checks Payable To:

Florida K of C Charities, Inc.
 
Vincent Cipriano
VP/Florida Charities Director
6318 Grand Oak Cir. Unit 104
Bradenton, Fl. 34203

Florida K of C Charities is a tax-exempt organization under IRS Code 501(c)(3).

Donations online at https://donate.floridakofccharities.org/ (Donate Button at top of page)

Consider just $10.00 a month to the Helping Life Fund and support the many Charitable Programs at Florida KofC Charities, Inc supporting the Florida Knights of Columbus.

Even a small one-time donation helps us support the many charities backed by the Florida Knights of Columbus.

Florida Knights Are Always Ready

Florida Knights are living with the mission of Blessed Michael McGivney