Pittsburg’s Broadway Tower Corporation has established the Knights of Columbus Endowment Fund with the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas using proceeds from the sale of the Knights of Columbus Tower. The new fund will continue the Tower’s mission through grants addressing Crawford County housing needs.
Starting in 2022, the Knights of Columbus Endowment Fund will host an annual grant cycle to support programs providing housing and rent or utility assistance to the elderly, handicapped, and low-income individuals and families of Crawford County. The Foundation expects the grant cycle to offer tens of thousands of dollars every year for eligible organizations.
“We are honored to accept this generous donation and to advance the important mission of addressing housing needs in Crawford County,” said Connie Kays, president of the Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “This gift will have a tremendous impact in our community.”
Jeff Wilbert, Broadway Tower Corporation board president, said, “After 40 years, we saw an opportunity to help the community solve housing issues in a new way.” Reflecting on the role of corporate founder and long-time president Bob Golob, Wilbert added, “Even though Bob is no longer with us, we appreciate his dedication to our mission and service to our board. We believe he would appreciate the decisions we’ve made to continue helping the elderly.”
The Community Foundation will announce more information about the new grant opportunity early next year.
About the Community Foundation
The Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas is a public non-profit foundation established in 2001 by a group of citizens who shared an interest in encouraging charitable giving and a commitment to strengthening local communities. The Foundation is home to more than 170 charitable funds addressing a wide range of charitable interests.
About the Knights of Columbus and Broadway Tower Corporation
The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men’s organization founded on the principles of charity, unity, and fraternity. Service and charity are at the heart of the Knights. The local council began in 1904 and has been serving the Pittsburg community for over 115 years.
Broadway Tower Corporation is a public charity founded by local members of the Knights of Columbus in 1978 with the mission of providing affordable housing for low-income elderly individuals. Starting in 1982, it operated Knights of Columbus Tower in downtown Pittsburg, where it served hundreds of local residents over its nearly 40 years in operation. During that time, the Tower and its residents benefited from the committed service of four sets of managers, Howard and Irene Wilbert; Ken and Jean Burbach; Steve and Nancy Hicks; and Pat and Terri Pence.