Knights of Columbus members throughout California are kicking off their 18th annual fundraising drive for people with intellectual disabilities this weekend which will continue into the early weeks of November. More than $9.6 million has been raised in the history of the drive, with a record $865,000 collected last year.

Knights will be seen at the entrances to local grocery stores, malls, and churches handing out specially packaged Tootsie Rolls and collecting loose change. Businesses and individuals are solicited for larger donations as their budgets may permit.

At the completion of the drive, each local council in the state selects a local charitable organization to be the recipient of their efforts. Many councils in the San Gabriel Valley Chapter, which encompasses most of the San Gabriel Pastoral Region, designate Marian Homes to receive their donations. Marian Homes operates supervised residential facilities in West Covina, Covina, Rowland Heights and some northern Orange County cities.

"The support of the Knights of Columbus makes everything that we do possible," said Donald Rivers, president of Marian Homes. "Last year we received over $75,000 through their efforts which supports a significant portion of our annual budget."

Gene Hays, fundraising chairman for the KofC in the San Gabriel Valley, said, "We are honored to provide assistance to those in need, and look forward to obtaining our goal of collecting $1 million statewide this year. Although natural disasters have been at the forefront of news headlines this year, we pray that the public will help us remember those in our own neighborhoods whose need continues throughout the year."

Members of Father Maguire Council #3851 of the Knights of Columbus recently conducted their fundraising drive at St. Christopher Church in West Covina.

Tax deductible donations made payable to the Columbian Foundation may be mailed to Knights of Columbus, Attn: Gene Hays, 4315 N. Vincent Ave., Covina, CA 91722. For more information, call (626) 354-4297.