Taking A Swing for Charity

SHELTON—Knights of Columbus councils are known for serving the greater good of their parishes and local communities and mostly work as individual councils. Nine years ago, Councils 14360 at St.Matthew Norwalk and 11077 at Our Lady of the Assumption Fairfield discovered that if they joined together to work on a major project, they could do even more for both of their parishes and communities. This realization led to the two councils hosting a charity golf tournament which started in 2016. The two councils once again came together to host the 8th Annual Sword & Shield Charity Golf Classic on June 10, 2024, at Brownson Country Club in the Huntington section of Shelton. The golfers enjoyed a delicious buffet breakfast before heading out to play and finished the day with appetizers and phenomenal buffet dinner which included prime rib, along with awards and a raffle which included a condo for a weekend in Myrtle Beach and gift certificates to local restaurants. Both councils worked hard for a year to raise funds for the organizations they support. “I am so proud of how our two councils come together each year and work so hard to make this tournament happen. It not only is a lot of fun for all of the participants, but it allows us to help so many wonderful, worthy organizations,” said Council 14360 Grand Knight Chris O’Connor. Representatives from three of the organizations which the tournament supports attended the dinner and spoke about their respective organizations at the event. CEO Vince Santilli spoke about ABRI/Homes for the Brave, which provides safe housing, vocational training and job placement, mental health and addiction services, and life skills coaching to help individuals, especially Veterans, leave homelessness behind. Lisa Casagrande Koeppel explained about the mission of Malta House which promotes the dignity of God-given life by providing a nurturing home environment, support services and independent living skills to pregnant and parenting mothers of all faiths and their children. Vince Santilli of Homes for the Brave thanked the Knights for their support of veterans through the funds raised at this tournament every year. He also spoke of the great work at Homes for the Brave in assisting homeless vets. “One of my favorite parts of the tournament is to see representatives from the organizations that both councils assist every year speak and inform the attendees on how they are making a difference by having a fun day. It puts everything we do into perspective, said Sword & Shield Charity Golf Classic co-chairman and St. Matthew Council member George Ribellino, Jr. Clergy from both parishes participated as Father Frank Hoffmann & Parochial Vicar Father Miguel Betancourt-Lenis from St. Matthew Parish in Norwalk, Father Mirek Stachurski from Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Fairfield, and former Assumption pastor Father Peter Cipriani (currently pastor at St. Rose of Lima in Newtown) attended. “We appreciate the support from our parishes and Brother Knights from other councils,”said Ribellino. The Tournament was supported by local businesses and organizations that bought sponsorships including title sponsor Wilfredo Perez Jr Memorial Foundation. Co-Chairman Greg Matera from Council 11077 was also thrilled with how things went, “I am proud of our committee, volunteers, councils and those who work for over seven months each year to put on this event. Even the threat of rain at this year’s tournament could not change the excitement everyone had in golfing and enjoying the day after a long year.” The 9th Annual Sword & Shield Classic at Brownson Country Club in Huntington will be June 9, 2025. Other organizations the councils help support include St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Disabled American Veterans and Family & Children’s Agency. The tournament has raised over $180,000 over the last eight years to use for it charitable works. The goal of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 14360 at St.Matthew Parish and Our Lady of the Assumption Parish is to perform acts of charity, providing those in need with a range of support from financial to tactical help in dealing with a wide variety of challenges.

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