Our Programs

Bishop Charles P. Greco Memorial Foundation

1. The Greco Fund is a Louisiana program that honors our dead and supports our seminarians.
2. The Greco Fund is managed by the Bishop Charles P. Greco Foundation. The Bishop Greco Memorial Foundation is a 501 (C)(3) non-proft organization, and donations are tax deductible (but please consult with your tax advisor).
3. The Foundation was named after our former State and Supreme Chaplain, Bishop Charles P. Greco.
4. The program is open to anyone - not just Knights of Columbus.
5. How does the program work?
   1. The donor (you) requests a set of cards from Past State Deputy Steve Thomas, Treasurer of the Foundation.
   2. A set includes two cards and two envelopes: (1) a large memorial card that you complete with the name of the deceased and send to the deceased's family; and (2) a smaller card that you complete and send to Steve Thomas, along with your donation. $25 is requested but any amount is accepted.
   3. Steve Thomas deposits the donation with the Greco Fund, and he forwards the smaller card to our State Chaplain or his designee who celebrates Mass in honor of the deceased.
6. Where does the money go?
   1. The donations are safely invested and the principal amount grows with interest. As of July 1st, 2024 the corpus of Greco Fund is $1.41 Million plus.
   2. The amount to be disbursed to the seminarians each year depends upon how much the Fund grew and how many seminarians are eligible to receive a disbursement. Thus, market fluctuations, changing interest, and the number of seminarians result in different distributions each year.
   3. To ensure the longevity of the Fund and the program, the principal amount (the corpus) is not disbursed - just the interest.
   4. Each year the Greco Foundation contacts the Bishop in each of the seven Louisiana dioceses and requests the names and addresses of each seminarian who will serve a diocese in Louisiana after being ordained. After determining the total amount of money available for disbursement, the Foundation sends a check to each of those seminarians.
   5. The Greco Fund helps to supplement the support that seminarians receive directly from the local councils and assemblies.
7. The Bishop Charles P. Greco Foundation and Fund are managed by the Past State Deputies of Louisiana and the current State Officers of the Louisiana State Council. Past State Deputy James Riente is the President of the Foundation.

For a set of cards or more information contact Past State Deputy Steve Thomas at scthom74@gmail.com