Nocatee Knights of Columbus council raises $7,300 for people with disabilities
Knights of Columbus Council 16492 of St. John Paul II Catholic Church in Ponte Vedra's
Nocatee community raised $7,300 for the organization's annual Citizens with Disabilities
Campaign.
Proceeds from the annual fundraiser will be donated to local nonprofit organizations that support
people with intellectual disabilities. Known as the Tootsie Roll Drive; because donors are
offered a piece of candy as appreciation, without being required to buy it, the campaign raises
more than $500,000 annually statewide and has generated millions of dollars over the years to
support adults and children.
Locally, the donations raised by Knights of Columbus Council 16492 of St. John Paul II will be
given to L’Arche, Field of Dreams, Bit of Faith Ranch and Camp Boggy Creek. Volunteers
raised the funds over the course of 60 time slots spread over five weeks. Collection locations
included St. John Paul II, Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Ponte Vedra Beach, and
Publix stores in the Ponte Vedra area.
"We are thankful to the parishioners from St. John Paul II and Our Lady Star of the Sea for their
support and generosity"; said Ken Gault, campaign chairman for Knights of Columbus Council
16492 of St. John Paul II. "We are also thankful to Publix stores and the generosity of the
public."
The Tootsie Roll Drive is one of the most popular and successful fundraisers conducted by the
Knights of Columbus for the benefit of people with intellectual disabilities. Globally, the Knights
of Columbus raises more than $175 million annually for local, national and international projects
for many charitable purposes.
Charities run by the Knights of Columbus include the Christian Refugee Relief Fund, Disaster
Relief, Ultrasound Initiative, and Coats for Kids. The Knights of Columbus also partners with
international charities such as Special Olympics, the Global Wheelchair Mission and Habitat for
Humanity.
Knights of Columbus is an international fraternal organization for Catholic men. For more
information on Knights of Columbus Council 16492 of St. John Paul II visit
https://www.nocateeknights.com/.
