Faith in Action

“The goal is to be able to do better every year, not because we want to set new records, but because we want to help more people,” said Joe Granda, a leader with the Knights of Columbus from San Marco Catholic Church (San Marco Council #6344) shortly before he and his Knights colleagues presented donation checks to approximately 10 organizations, most of which are nonprofits engaged in community service work here on Marco Island and in Naples.

The recently completed 2025-26 season was a fruitful and busy one for the San Marco Catholic Church Knights of Columbus, according to Dick Gabrys, who was part of the fundraising and gift-giving efforts. “One of our biggest fundraisers is our bingo, held at the church on Thursday nights,” said Gabrys, a longtime Knight who once served the group as its Grand Master Knight. “We also held fish fry’s, a spaghetti dinner, and a car show,” he continued. “Our 2026 tribute concert series also generated a lot of interest from people on Marco, with the money being donated through ticket sales.”

When the dust settled in the late spring, the Knights raised close to $425,000 according to Granda and then began their process to vet the potential recipient organizations as well as donate the funds, with a chunk of it going to several veteran-driven groups such as:

• Collier County Honor Flight
• Golden Paws Assistance Dogs
• Avow Hospice (Naples)
• Warrior Homes of Collier

In addition, the remaining funds, about $103,000, went to faith-based organizations, including:

• St. Vincent DePaul Society (Naples)
• Habitat for Humanity of Collier County
• ASL Friends (American Sign Language)
• Our Daily Bread
• Catholic Charities of Collier County
• Women’s Care Center (Naples)

“We identify charities that are deserving of assistance,” said Granda, himself a seasoned member of the San Marco Catholic Church Knights of Columbus council. “We do not keep any of the money raised; it all goes to charity,” added Granda. “Our council and assembly groups both gave away lots of money, making a lot of people happy.”

Charities Grateful for Knights Generosity

Among the 10 or so recipients on hand for the Knights presentation event on May 19, 2026, that included a tasty home-cooked meal and dessert, were leaders from MDR Your Brain Health Matters, fresh from having moved into their new offices, the MDR Champagne Center for Brain Health. The offices are located within the NCH Building B (second floor) at 40 Heathwood Drive, adjacent to the new NCH Urgent Care at the corner of San Marco Road and Heathwood Drive on Marco Island.

Joined by his MDR colleagues, Denise Rose, Community Relations Director, and Stephanie Bean, Operations Director, Dr. Paul Nussbaum (Chair of the MDR Champagne Center for Brain Health and Director of Memory Assessment Center for MDR Your Brain Health Matters), thanked the Knights for their generous gift toward MDR’s ongoing mission to be the trusted source for brain health information in the community.

“One of the things we’ve discovered is that we are caring for individuals in the middle or moderate stage of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia,” said Dr. Nussbaum. “We have a keen interest in expanding our outreach and supporting individuals who have a very early-stage problem or some difficulties or challenges with memory and may be confused on not knowing what to do or where to turn,” he said, noting MDR’s free memory screen event on Marco Island in March that drew 87 people, with several participants being in their 60’s. Planning is underway for another free memory screen event to be held in the fall, with details forthcoming.

As the evening of giving ended, Gabrys’ earlier comment summed up the decade’s long commitment the Knights of Columbus has when it comes to empowering Catholic men to live their faith and serve their family, parish, community, and country.

“Community service is our existence,” he said, recalling the history of the Knights and its founder, the blessed Michael McGivney. “It’s what we do.”