Sir Knight Gary Radaszewski named Knight of the Month October 2011

Sir Knight Gary Radaszewski

 

At the October meeting of the St. Mary of Huntley Knights of Columbus Council #11666, the trustees selected Sir Knight Gary Radaszewski Knight of the Month for October 2011, recognizing his efforts as Chairman of the council’s Intellectual Disabilities Drive held in September of this year.

One of the most popular and successful programs conducted by Knights of Columbus state and local councils for the benefit of people with intellectual disabilities is the fund-raiser in which councils collect donations outside stores and on street corners. In appreciation, the donor is offered a candy bar, often a Tootsie Roll. The high visibility of this program has led to the campaign being referred to as the “Tootsie Roll Drive.” The nickname is understandable, but misleading.  The Knights of Columbus has no official tie to Tootsie Rolls or their manufacturer. 


As Chairman of this activity, Gary secured permission where required to allow the Knights to stand outside stores and on street corners in Huntley during the drive.  Also, he motivated Knights from the 245 members of the council to volunteer their time during the weekend of the drive and arranged schedules for the volunteers to be at the various locations in Huntley throughout the weekend of the drive.  On the weekend of the drive, Gary volunteered his entire weekend to coordinate the efforts of his Brother Knights at the various locations in and around Huntley.

The funds donated at the various locations are then donated to local organizations that help people with Intellectual Disabilities. Some of the local organizations who received donations in the past are the Light Center Foundation in Union, FINDS (Family Ideas Network for Downs Syndrome) in Crystal Lake, Adult & Child Rehab Center in Woodstock, NISRA Foundation in Crystal Lake, SEDOM (Special Education District of McHenry County) in Woodstock, Catholic Diocese of Rockford Special Education Fund in Woodstock, Special Camps for Special Citizens in Downers Grove, and the Illinois Special Olympics in St. Charles.