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During an impromptu ceremony that took place during the 127th Annual Supreme Convention, held here in Phoenix, members of the Arizona District of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus presented over 110 wheelchairs to three disabled veteran organizations. The chairs are the result of donations made to the Knights of Columbus and were made available through the Wheelchair Foundation. Operation Wheelchair has resulted in the donations of nearly 750,000 to people in need in over 152 countries on nearly every continent.

Michael Kingman, Master of the Arizona District of the Fourth Degree, made the presentation of wheelchairs to representatives of the Arizona Chapters of the Vietnam Veterans of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Military Order of the Purple Heart. Accepting for each organization, respectively were: Robert J. Puskar, Commander of the Military order of the Purple Heart, Department of Arizona; Patricia Beran of the Arizona Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America; and John
Tuzzolino of Vietnam Veterans of America.

“The Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree are proud to support our veterans, especially those who are disabled and are not able to receive or afford a wheelchair to maintain their mobility.” Kingman thanked the representatives for their sacrifices on behalf of a grateful nation and vowed to distribute the wheelchairs evenly among the three Arizona veteran groups.

According to Kingman, the Arizona Knights of Columbus plan to continue raising funds to purchase more wheelchairs to distribute throughout Arizona to veterans in need. Each wheelchair is purchased through the Wheelchair Foundation for about $75.00 each.
The Knights of Columbus is the largest family fraternal service organization with over 1.7 million members in 10 countries including the Unites States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, and Poland. Last year, the Knights of Columbus donated over $50 million to charities, and its members donated nearly 69 million man-hours in charitable projects.

For further information contact John Garcia, State Public Relations Director for the Arizona State Council. He can be reached at telephone (602) 525-4424. For more information on Operation Wheelchair, visit the Wheelchair Foundation  Web site .