The Knights of Columbus Endowment Fund, through the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas (CFSEK), is excited to announce its 2026 grant awards totaling $84,900 to 15 Southeast Kansas organizations for projects addressing basic human needs in Crawford County. Since its inception in 2021, the fund has distributed over $341,000 to over 50 projects!
“We are so excited to be able to help such worthy organizations, who work hard at making our community a better place for everyone to live,” said Jeff Wilbert, a representative of the Knights of Columbus in Pittsburg. “Our job is easy; they do the hard work.”
As a result of the sale of the Knights of Columbus Tower in 2021, the Pittsburg Broadway Tower Corporation established the Knights of Columbus Endowment Fund with CFSEK.
The 2026 Knights of Columbus grants were awarded to the following organizations and projects:
- Building Health, Inc – Bridging the Housing Gap
- Catholic Charities Inc. – Housing and Homeless Supportive Services Project
- Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas – Healing Begins at Home, Victim Services Project
- Cornerstones of Care – Stopping the Spiral
- DBLO Association – Improving Sleep Health for Children in Crawford County, Kansas
- Families and Children Together Inc. – Essentials for Stability
- First United Methodist Church: Wesley House – One Month Supply of Food
- Fostering Connections: Fostering Forward Ranch, A Life Launch Community
- Mosaic: Ensuring Quality of Life for People with Disabilities
- Our Lady of Lourdes Parish/St. Mary’s Colgan Catholic Schools – Love thy Neighbor
- Safe Families for Children – Emergency Home Essentials Support for Families in Crisis
- SE Kansas Women Helping Women – Home and Health Support
- SEK Community Action Program, Inc – Anchoring Progress, From Crisis to Stability
- Special Olympics Kansas – Medals for Senior Unified and Traditional Special Olympics
- The Salvation Army – Keeping Families Together Amid a Crisis
“The Community Foundation is honored to partner with the Knights of Columbus to carry forward a legacy of caring for our neighbors,” said Devin Gorman, CFSEK Executive Director. “These grants will help local organizations meet essential needs across Crawford County, from housing and food assistance to health, safety, and stability for families. We are grateful for the Knights of Columbus Endowment Fund’s continued commitment to improving our community.”
The Knights of Columbus Endowment Fund was established with the intent to continue the Tower’s mission through an annual competitive grant process aimed at projects that accomplish any of the following for the elderly, handicapped, and low-income families and individuals of Pittsburg, Kansas, and the surrounding area:
- Provide assistance for housing, rent, or utilities
- Provide health and human services to meet their educational, social, physical, spiritual, and psychological needs
- Promote their health, security, happiness, and usefulness
- Improve community services for them
For additional information about granting or establishing a charitable fund through CFSEK, call 620-231-8897 or visit SoutheastKansas.org.