Alex & Regan Franklin Named Family of the Year
Gallardo Family Selected for Honorable Mention
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Joe Purka
850.974.1491
jwpurka@gmail.com
May 24 – Alexander and Regan Franklin of Resurrection Council 15675 in Riverview were named Saturday as the Florida’s Family of the Year by the Florida State Council of the Knights of Columbus.
The Franklins were selected by the 55,000 member Florida jurisdiction of the international fraternal organization for their service to their council, their church and their local community.
Florida Knights also chose the Terry and Ellen Gallardo family of the Father Phillip de Carriere Council 10484, Haines City for the Family of the Year Honorable Mention Award. The Gallardo family resides in Davenport.
Alex Franklin, his wife, Regan and children Nick and Sophia reside in Brandon and are all involved in various church ministries at Resurrection Catholic Church in Riverview to include the Eucharistic ministry, CCD and RCIA religious education programs, altar servers, lectors and choir.
Several years ago, the entire family organized the first parish youth retreat which has turned into an annual event attracting more than one hundred young men and women attendees.
As a family, they have actively participated in the council’s annual golf tournament, Tootsie Roll drive to support the intellectually challenged, Coats for Kids initiative and the council’s food pantry that serves more than one hundred local area families each week.
Alex, a knight for seven years, has served his council in several officer and chairman positions including financial secretary and recorder, coaches Little League Baseball and is a board member for a local Boy Scout troop.
Regan, a school teacher, heads up the women’s church retreat, is active in the Parent-Teacher-Student Organization and runs the school food bank that assists the homeless and less fortunate.
Nick and Sophia are both altar servers, both members of the National Honor Society, and are also very active in their high school. Nick was captain of the cross-country team and assists his father in directing the annual Passion Play. Sophia is currently student body president band assists her mother with the religious education classes.
The Florida State Council will nominate the Franklin family to Supreme for consideration for the national award presented by the two million member Knights of Columbus at their annual convention in the fall.
The Gallardo family includes Terry and Ellen, Terry’s brother Larry, daughter Kayla and Terry’s mother, Eva. All are active members of St. Ann Catholic Church in Haines City, serving in various church ministries.
Terry has been a knight for 12 years and his brother Lerry, a knight for eleven. Both are very active in Council 10484 activities, holding various officer positions and the Knights’ Fourth Degree color corps. Terry has served as warden, deputy grand knight, grand knight, faithful navigator and district deputy.
The Gallardo family is also very active with the Polk County Florida Special Olympics which provides year-round sports training and competition to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
