Sir Knight Ernie Matia receives the Golden Heart Award from Heartland Blood Centers recognizing 12 years volunteering to organize blood drives.

Sir Knight Ernie Matia (left) with wife Wanda and St. Mary of Huntley Knights of Columbus Chaplin Msgr. Steve Knox after receiving the Heartland Blood Centers Golden Heart Award recognizing his efforts organizing blood drives since September of 2009 resulting in over 1100 pints of blood being donated by generous parishioners, neighbors and Knights of Columbus.  

At the conclusion of the September meeting of the St. Mary of Huntley Knights of Columbus, Sir Knight Ernie Matia was presented with the Golden Heart Award from Heartland Blood Centers by Jamie Lauer, Marketing Representative, Heartland Blood Centers.

In 2009 Ernie began to volunteer his time to organize the blood drives sponsored by the St. Mary of Huntley Knights of Columbus Council #11666.  The first drive yielded 14 pints of blood.  The most recent blood drive sponsored by the St. Mary Knights on September 10, 2011 resulted in 116 pints of blood being donated.  Donating blood is truly donating the gift of life. 

At the presentation, Sir Knight Lou Schutt related a first-hand testimonial  how blood donors saved his life when he suddenly became ill and upon being hospitalized the blood needed to save him was available because of the generosity of so many donors. He encourages everyone who is able to donate blood to do so and give someone else the gift of life. 

The Knights sponsor the blood drives to provide a charitable opportunity for parishioners, neighbors and Knights to help others in need.