b'KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS COUNCIL #13437 Saint Joseph the Worker Augusta, GeorgiaDuring the past fraternal year, Saint Josephs council has participated in various activities fostered around the core principles of our Order; Unity, Charity, Fraternity, and Patriotism. Utilizing these principles as our guidelines, Saint Joseph the Worker Council set out to have a banner yearand what a year we had. CHARITY: The Knights of Columbus (KofC) Council #13437 is honored and privileged to have been able to participate in the KofC Ultrasound initiative. Through the tireless effort and leadership of Deacon Tom Valois and GK Jeffrey Jurrus, and PGK Jonathan VonPlinsky, this council was able to raise $19K towards the purchase and donation of an Ultrasound Machine that was presented to the Pregnant Choices Medical Clinic located in Evans Georgia. The presentation of this ultrasound machine was presided over and blessed by the Most Reverend Stephen D. Parkes, Bishop of the Diocese of Savannah. In this, we affirm our belief that every child, born and unborn, possesses an inalienable right to life which we will support and defend at every opportunity.UNITY: The council hosted the annual Knights of Columbus (K of C) Free Throw challenge in conjunction with the District 24 Free Throw finals and Georgia State qualifiers. With the assistance of the Alleluia Community and school, 29 children competed in this event of which 10 moved on to represent the council and district at the Georgia State tournament with four children placing second place in their age groups and one child placing first.FRATERNITY: One of the many blessings we share as part of Saint Joseph the Worker Council is taking full advantage of the opportunities to build our brotherhood while forwarding our cause to provide in all ways for our parish and community. One event in particular allows us to do just that. Our BBQ Boston butt fundraiser provides an opportunity for Knights and their families to come together to prepare, cook, and package these delicious meals all while strengthening the bonds that make this council truly great. These BBQ Boston Butts are prepared using a special blend of herbs and spices and the slow smoked overnight. This most recent fundraiser resulted in the sale of 50 slow-smoked BBQ Boston Butts and generated $2500 in profit which enabled the council to provide meals for the faith formation dinners, provide for our sponsored seminarians, purchase of two additional guitars for the Guitars for Vets program, and to offer a generous tithe to our parish.PATRIOTISM: This council has been a proud supporter of the Guitars 4 Vets program for the past 4 years. This program was started in the Augusta area by a fellow council member with the aim reaching combat veterans struggling with physical and mental effects of war and teaching them how to play the acoustic guitar as a modality of self-healing. Each veteran dedicates themselves to one hour weekly session for 12 weeks in order to graduate the program. Upon graduation the veteran will receive a certificate of completion, a brand new Acoustic Guitar, and a complete accessory kit. We are extremely proud to have provided 14 brand new guitars to the program for these deserving veterans and for having assisted the program in achieving their goal of placing The healing power of music in the hands of heroes.We feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to serve our families, our parish, and our communities as part of this magnificent fraternity of catholic gentlemen and look forward to growing the order through our works and example. 81'