COLUMBIAN FOUNDATION
FOR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL RETARDATION, INC.
A California Non-Profit Public Benefit Corporation
Qualified as a Charitable Corporation under Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and Section 23701(d) of the California Statues

A Charitable Project
of the
California State Council of the Knights of Columbus
Helping those with Intellectual Disabilities

2006 ANNUAL REPORT

  April 2007

To:                   Board of Directors, State Officers, Board of Chaplains, Grand Knights,
                        District Deputies, Chapter Presidents, and Chapter Chairmen/Assistant

From:               Frank Nigro, P.S.D., President

Subject:            2006 Annual Report

Enclosure:         2006 Financial Statement

FINANCIAL STATEMENT: The following is the Annual report of your Columbian Foundation for People with Mental Retardation, Inc. for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006.

GROSS CONTRIBUTIONS: Through the great effort of all our Councils the past nineteen (19) years, new heights in Columbianism for charity have been achieved.  Our Councils, through the efforts of the membership, have collected over Eleven Million Dollars ($11,300,000.00). On behalf of the Board of Directors, We cannot thank you enough.

DONATIONS: The success of the 2006 drive really belongs to the many councils who solicit donations from the local businesses and corporations in their area.

PRO-RATA SHARE: The continuous growth of the M.R. program and fund raising drive for 2006 was excellent. The Pro-Rata Share (which is the M. R. operation fund) will be 7½% for the 2007 Drive.

RESIDENTIAL/EDUCATIONAL LOAN PROGRAM:  .

The Foundation has issued three (2) interest free loans, one in the San Gabriel area and the other in San Diego.

Thanks to the Councils support for this program, we are able to financially support facilities that take care of people with Mental Retardation.

NOTE Our Supreme Council has informed the Tootsie Roll Company regarding the tootsie roll wrapper and the terminology used on and inside the wrapper. The Phrase on the outside of the Wrapper “Mental Retardation” will be replaced by the words “Intellectual Disabilities”.

With Regard to the upcoming drive in October 2007, you can order aprons with the phrase “Intellectual Disabilities”.

COUNCILS: For the year 2006, our records indicate 422 Councils participated. However, only 405 Councils have sent in their M/R 200 report with gross contributions of $ 864,798.28.  The Foundation has received (less council expenses) $ 818,695.31. The Foundation can not over emphasize the importance of receiving the M/R 200 form along with the net proceeds from the drive. It is essential that these funds be forwarded to the Foundation Treasurer within a Thirty (30) day period after the conclusion of the drive, as requested on the form.

Should a Council not have a qualified recipient, the monies MUST be sent in anyway, using the M/R 200 form. The Request for Distribution will be held while deciding whom the recipient is, until September 30^th of the year following the drive. At that time, it will be automatically deposited in the Residential/ Educational Loan Program. As we have mentioned many times in the past, you are dealing with public funds and you are accountable for all funds collected.

Those Councils who have a gross revenue of $4,000.00 or more will receive a plaque at the State Convention.

COUNCIL NUMBER              COUNCIL NAME                          GROSS CONTRIBUTION

DISTRICT DEPUTIES: There are many districts, which have excellent participation. We have worked with our District Deputies in keeping them informed on how their District has participated in the program with the hope that they will encourage those Councils who have not participated, to do so.  Their effort has been a tremendous help in the success we have achieved.  I wish to thank the “Man in the Middle” for all his support.

A District Deputy having a 100% participation of all there Councils and the Foundation receiving Council Drive Report Form (M/R200) with the net proceeds by January 15, 2007 will receive a plaque at the State Convention.

Top District in the State, with the highest gross revenue by a District will receive a plaque at the State Convention.                                         

Highest Gross Revenue

District # 90 – 67,368.39

 Dr Guy Gottschalk, District Deputy

 CHAPTERS: A concerted effort was made this year to focus on Chapters. I truly  believe that the Chapters play a vital roll  in our fund raising program. We have four (4) Chapters who achieved 100% of all their council’s participation in our M.R. Program. A great job, well done! Now, we need the other twelve  (12) Chapters to do the same.

The following Chapters had 100% participation of all their Councils and their Chapter Chairman will receive a plaque at the State Convention, they are:

The Chapter who has the highest ratio of gross revenue to number of Councils in their Chapter will receive a plaque at the State Convention,

Highest Gross Average Per Council

Orange County Chapter - $ 4.981.21

Barry J Crawley, Chapter President

There will be three (3) awards for Chapters with the highest gross revenue by its Councils. The Chapters will receive a plaque at the State Convention.

Highest Gross Contribution
Orange County Chapter - $ 168.473.27
Barry J Crawley, Chapter President

Second Highest Gross Contribution
Northern California Chapter - $116.617.90
David M Abbott, Chapter President

Third Highest Gross Contribution
San Diego Diocese Chapter – $ 89.286.60
John Giltner, Chapter President

Our Chapters deserve a great deal of credit for the continuous improvement of this program.

CORPORATION  NAME: When this corporation was formed, a great deal of research was done, together with contacting other State Councils regarding the use of the words “Mentally Retarded” (MR).  It was evident that this term was the key element in fund raising programs.

The Board of Directors of this Corporation is very sensitive to the term “Mentally Retarded.” The phrase  “Mentally Retarded” is a medical term.

There are two concerns that our society deals with in this area, they are:

1. The many organizations, home facilities, County Governments, State Governments, Federal Government and the many men and women who train and take care of people with mentally retarded citizens, prefer not to use the term “Mentally Retarded,” however, their substitute phrases keep changing. 

2. The Fund Raisers, like our Corporation the Columbian Foundation for People with Mental Retardation, Inc., is a public benefit corporation.  Our primary function is to raise funds for People with Mental Retardation. The general public is very familiar with the term, “Mentally Retarded,” and have a clear understanding of what this term means and they give most generously in support of this program. It is the belief of the Board that the use of the term “People with Mental Retardation” will raise the most money.

It is our mission to raise funds the best way we know. Our councils have done a fantastic job these past nineteen (19) years. We have raised over Eleven Million Dollars ($11,300,000.00). in donations. These funds go to local community charities 501(C)(3) as designated by the local Council. The many local facilities that receive these funds have many different corporate names. However; they all support by virtue of their purpose; People with Mental Retardation.

At our Board meeting on February 20, 1999 The Board voted to change the Corporate Name to “Columbian Foundation for People with Mental Retardation”, Inc. this will meet the needs of not only children, but also adults. The need for residential living for children and adults is becoming more apparent as we continue the work of this program.

On February 1, 2003 at our bi-annual Board Meeting, the Board of Directors approved to replace the current apron “Help Mentally Retarded Children” with a new apron “Helping People with Mental Retardation”.

STATE COUNCIL OFFICE: A special thanks to the State Office, Barry Crawley, State Executive Secretary and Mercedes Peterson for all their support to the Foundation during the year, especially the many reports they generate for the Foundation.

I wish to give a special thanks to our Grand Knights, District Deputies, Chapters, Chapter Chairmen/Assistant, Committee Chairman, Foundation Officers and the Board of Directors for all their effort in making this year’s program a huge success.

Let’s make 2007 an even greater year for people with Intellectual Disabilities. This year’s drive will be held on the weekend of October 19, 20, and 21, 2007.

God Bless.

Fraternally,

Frank Nigro, P.S.D.
President

A copy of the Annual Report can be obtained by clicking here or writing to the Foundation at the following address:

Mr. Frank Nigro, PSD - President
Columbian Foundation for People with Mental Retardation, Inc.
11292 Reagan Street - Los Alamitos, CA  90720
 

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Copyright 2004: Columbian Foundation for People with Mental Retardation, Inc.
First Online: December 29, 2004 -- Last Updated: pending June25, 2008