Delivered by Carl A. Anderson Supreme Knight Knights of Columbus Fairfield University January 23, 2009 Carl Anderson

With the philanthropic giving index down 22 percent, and the economic crisis affecting nonprofit organizations nationwide, Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, on Jan. 23 called for a summit of charitable and volunteer organizations to be held in New York City next month.

In a speech at Fairfield University, Anderson invited the nation’s top charitable and volunteer organizations to attend a summit on Feb. 27 on volunteerism and the charitable response to the economic crisis.

The summit will be sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the Fairfield University Center for Faith and Public Life.

Anderson encouraged charitable organizations to work together with the new administration to emphasize and create opportunities for volunteers, especially at a time when financial donations to charity are decreasing.

Speaking just days after the Jan. 19 National Day of Service, Mr. Anderson also called for Americans to take the spirit of that day forward and to make 2009 “the year of the volunteer.”

“Government and charities must work together for the good of our country, and in difficult economic times, that means creating opportunities for Americans to give of their time and talent, as well as their treasure,” said Anderson. “People may be unable to donate $50 or $100 dollars to charity, but everyone can certainly spend an extra hour a week – that’s less than 10 minutes a day – doing something for the good of his or her neighbor.”