Knights of Columbus Insurance

Hi my name is Joel Laird. I have been a Knight since November 2006 and a 4th Degree Knight since June 2007, I have been working for the Knights of Columbus since March 1, 2006 and I think this is the greatest organization in the world. I have been in the Insurance industry for 6 years and love it.

I have a beautiful wife Lisa and 3 wonderful children Bradley 24, Tyler 18, and Sarah 17 (Bradley is a 3rd degree Knight). I am a member of Holy Family Council at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Avondale, AZ where I am a Life teen Core Member.

My Goals are to be available for all of the members and Family of the Councils that I serve 3510,3855, 4737, 7465, 11675, 12851, 13024, and 14185 so don't be afraid to call me anytime. My Cell Number is 602-989-3542

The McGivney Legacy

Visit the Father McGivney Web site

Father Michael J. McGivney was a 29-year-old assistant pastor at St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Conn., when he founded the Knights of Columbus in 1882. Father McGivney's holiness, devotion to priestly ministry and work to protect family life provide a powerful spiritual influence for Knights of Columbus, their family members and a growing number of other Catholics.

Father McGivney's cause for canonization was opened in 1997 by then Archbishop Daniel A. Cronin of Hartford, Conn. Its diocesan phase has been completed. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican is currently reviewing Father McGivney's life and works and investigating two reported miracles attributed to his intercession.

Pope Benedict XVI declared Father Michael J. McGivney venerable March 15, approving a decree of "Heroic Virtue" for the parish priest who founded the Knights of Columbus. This step significantly advances Father McGivney's cause for sainthood.

Knights Set New Record for Charitable Giving

The Knights of Columbus announced June 8 that it set new records for charitable giving and volunteer service in 2007.

The results of the Order’s annual Survey of Fraternal Activity for the year ending Dec. 31, 2007, show that total contributions to charity at all levels reached $146,700,004 – exceeding the previous year’s total by more than $3 million.

The figure includes $35,133,393 donated by the Supreme Council, and $108,682,611 in charitable donations by state and local councils, Fourth Degree assemblies and Squire circles.

The survey also shows that the reported number of volunteer hours by Knights for charitable causes grew to 68,270,432, up more than 4 million hours from 2006.  There were 393,807 Knights of Columbus blood donors during the year, and Knights made more than 6 million visits to the sick and bereaved.

The volunteer efforts were spearheaded by the Knights’ continued commitment to the Gulf States region affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. Shortly after the hurricanes, Knights donated more than $10 million to relief efforts, and donations of money and time continued throughout 2006.

Cumulative figures show that during the past decade, the Knights of Columbus has donated nearly $1.25 billion to charity, and provided in excess of 593 million hours of volunteer service in support of charitable causes