International Community Activity Awards

Top Finishers  • 2nd – Council 3269, Avon Ohio  • 3rd – Council 7070, Edmonton Alberta   • 4th – Council 13318, Detroit Michigan

First Place
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Council 7612
Owing Mills, Maryland
Courage Lion Project

The death of children throughout the community and particularly children from two Knights’ families provided the impetus for the “Courage Lion Program.” In January 2005, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Council 7612 in Owing Mills, Md., began an unprecedented research and development effort for impacting the lives of critically ill, traumatized and abused children. The results have excited medical professionals, child care specialists and clergy, while exciting the children involved. With the vision of the Knights and the dedication of volunteers from every part of society, Council 7612 has produced an extraordinary therapeutic solution.

Eighteen months of research and development between the council and Johns Hopkins Children’s Center concluded with the launch of the Courage Lion Program there on June 27, 2006. The excellent growth of this program has been made possible by the generous support of a broad range of contributors, from individuals to large corporate sponsors. The hard work of more than 300 supporters has brought the Courage Lion Program to 17,500 children in less than 11 months with contributions exceeding $160,000.

Supreme Chaplain Bishop William E. Lori, Council 7612 Past Grand Knight and Mrs. John Ramming, and Dorian and Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson.

From designing and producing the therapeutic “Duffy the Courage Lion” to the insightfully written and vividly illustrated book Courage Pockets, to the audio book with its awe-inspiring songs and music, enormous things have been accomplished. Collaborators on the project included priests, graphic designers, an author, an illustrator, a composer, a lyricist, a vocalist, a narrator, a photographer, musicians, an audio specialist, and hundreds of sponsors, Knights and volunteers. Simply put, without Council 7612’s help, this program would not have succeeded.

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Second Place: Father Ragan, Council 3269
Avon, Ohio
Smiles for Sophie

When the council advocate learned that a local 3 ½ year old girl was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and the parents had to leave their jobs immediately to take her to Saint Jude’s Medical Center in Tennessee, he went to the council to help and support the family in its time of need.

Realizing the expense the family would incur, the council organized a fund-raiser with a steak dinner and auction. More than 150 Knights and their families banded together to host the largest community event in the council’s recent history. The council served over 400 dinners and when the evening was completed more than $15,500 was raised to support a little girl named Sophie. Now all are praying for a miracle.

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Third Place: Saint Peter, Council 7070
Edmonton, Alberta
Project J

When Council  7070 learned that the Mandeville Diocese in Jamaica requested assistance to build homes for the poor and help for the local orphanage, they decided to get involved. The council collected clothes and toys for the orphanage.

Eight Knights and two wives volunteered to go the Mandeville region to construct four homes. Everyone who participated in the program gained much more then they gave, and realized that their experience made a big difference for four Jamaican families.

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Fourth Place: Bishop Joseph C. Plagens, Council 13318
Detroit, Michigan
U.S. Marine Care Package Drive

What started out as a project by members of  Bishop Joseph C. Plagens Council 13318 in Detroit to send Christmas care packages to a brother Knight in Iraq evolved into a program that included sending packages to 100 Michigan Marines serving in Fullujah, Iraq.

The drive by the council raised approximately $4,000 that was used to help create 108 parcels of nonperishable items. These care packages arrived in Iraq just prior to Christmas. The council held a second drive during Lent that raised $10,000 used to prepare 373 care packages that were delivered just before Easter. The council also planned drives to allow packages to be delivered for the Fourth of July and the coming Christmas.

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