In 1944 the Knights of Columbus established its million-dollar Educational Trust Fund
to provide a college education to the children of members who were killed or permanently
and totally disabled in World War II. Later the benefit was extended to the
children of members who were killed or disabled in the Korean war, in Vietnam or in
service with a United Nations peacekeeping force. In 1970 this privilege was
developed further to include children of members of the Order who are killed or
permanently and totally disabled as a result of criminal violence while functioning as law
enforcement officers and in 1971 to those who were killed or disabled as a result of
criminal violence while performing their duties as full time firefighters. These
scholarships include tuition, room and board, books, lab fees and other incidental
expenses at the Catholic college of the student's choice.
Under provisions of the Pro Deo and Pro Patria scholarship program, the Supreme Council
annually awards $1,000-a-year scholarships on the basis of merit to 10 members or the sons
or daughters of members in good standing or who were so at the time of their death.
Five scholarships are for use at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.; the
rest may be used at a Catholic college of the recipient's choice. Two additional
scholarships are available to Columbian Squires 
, one
at the Catholic University, and one at the college of the Squire's choice.
Four merit scholarships paying up to $1,000 a year at Canadian colleges or universities
are awarded annually to the members of the Canadian councils or the sons and daughters of
living of deceased members. Similar benefits are available in Mexico and the
Philippines.
The Supreme Council also has set up postgraduate fellowships at the Catholic University
of America. The fellowships are open to lay men and women, both married and
unmarried, and cover board, lodging and tuition. Maximum tenure is four years, with
a course in American history a requisite.
In 1973 the Supreme Council established the Bishop Charles P. Greco graduate
fellowships for specialization in the field of teaching the mentally retarded. The
$200,000 trust honors the Order's late supreme chaplain for his pioneering work in the
construction and maintenance of Catholic-oriented facilities for mentally retarded
individuals. The grant provides $500 a semester and is renewable for a maximum of
four semesters. An eligible candidate must be a member of the Order or the son or
daughter of a member in good standing. The candidate also must be engaged in or
planning a full-time graduate study leading to a master's degree in the field of teaching
the educationally handicapped with emphasis on the mentally retarded.
With the purpose of improving performance in achieving the objectives of Catholic
education, delegates to the 1980 Supreme Council established the million-dollar
"Father Michael J. McGivney Fund for New Initiatives in Catholic Education." Earnings from the fund will support research projects of vital importance to the
U.S. and Canada through the auspices of the National Catholic Educational Association with
the approval of the board of directors.
These programs at the Supreme Council level combine with other projects on the state
and local level to total a multimillion-dollar order-wide commitment to students.
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