Did you know this about the IW Knights of Columbus?
“As a ‘Founding Champion of the World Games’, the Knights of Columbus has supported the games since the first Special Olympics in 1968, donating more than $600 million to programs for people with intellectual and physical disabilities.
His job title is ‘Bagger at Kroger’, a seemingly candid label that hardly describes his best work, even if he’s handled groceries since June 2001. Shoppers may be unaware that the man asking them if they want paper or plastic personally asked Congress for funding in 2005. An international public speaker, Knight of Columbus and Special Olympics athlete, Paul Marretti has raised tens of thousands of dollars for people with intellectual disabilities.
Marretti’s enthusiasm and support for sports goes back to his childhood, when, in no particular order, he participated in soccer, golf, basketball, skiing, bowling, tennis, aquatics and softball. In 1995, he approached a local baseball league about sponsoring a softball game at Richmond’s ballpark. The goal was to raise a little money for the Special Olympics. The outcome was tens of thousands of dollars more than anyone expected, providing funding that resulted in local Special Olympics programs which are still active today.
Marretti entered the Special Olympics the same summer he started his job at Kroger, a regional grocery store chain, earning three medals at the 2001 Special Olympics Virginia Summer Games. He joined the Knights of Columbus the following year and began speaking publicly about the positive impact the games had on the lives of participants. He then became one of a dozen athletes designated as Global Messengers, going on to speak about his experience before 75,000 people at the Dublin Special Olympics World Games in 2003.
In August 2003, he spoke at the 121st Annual Supreme Council Meeting in Washington D.C. An audience of 2,500 listened at the States Dinner as Marretti explained his journey with the Special Olympics.
‘It’s always nice to be among friends who are so involved in two organizations which have so dramatically changed my life, Special Olympics and Knights of Columbus,’ he said. ‘Without the Knights of Columbus, Special Olympics athletes like me simply would not have the opportunities we do.’”
For more information on this article follow the link to www.IWKnights.com/bulletin or at facebook.com/IWknights 9981 and NOW on Twitter at twitter.com/IwKnights to read the entire article published on www.KofC.org
Links Related to this week’s column:
- MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT
Knights of Columbus Press Release (7/20/2018)
- Knight of Columbus and Special Olympics athlete, Paul Marretti has raised tens of thousands of dollars for people with intellectual disabilities..
- SPECIAL OLYMPICS: 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Knights of Columbus Press Release (7/20/2018)
- IWKnights' Developmental Disabilities (DD) or “Tootsie Roll” Drive
Incarnate Word Knights of Columbus.
- One-half of the funds raised go to support the Knights of Columbus Developmental Center at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center. The remaining funds are distributed at the discretion of each individual council..
Rack-in-the-Back........
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We would like to talk with you about becoming an IW Knight. Please visit us on-line at our web site: www.IWknights.com/AboutUs. Or call Rob at: (314) 973-2373.
