For 25 years, the Knights of Columbus Saint Elizabeth Council 10743 has raised money to benefit special education programs in both the Elizabethton and Carter County School systems. Aside from its annual Fall fundraiser distributing Tootsie Rolls at Walmart, the council also applies for grants. On Tuesday, the Council presented Elizabethton City Schools with $1,000.

Director of Elizabethton City Schools Dr. Corey Gardenhour explained the funds have been used for infrastructure improvements, teaching supplies and technology and even equipment to help meet needs in special education programs, like a kitchen area and washing machine.

“Your support means so much,” he said.

Gardenhour said they had students that experienced difficulty communicating, but with funding from the Knights of Columbus and from the school system, they were able to purchase technology that made communicating possible.
“Now they’re pre-readers,” he said. “We think when they leave elementary school, they’ll be reading. These funds do help.”

The Council collects funds which are pooled by the MR Foundation. Those funds are then dispersed back in the form of grant and other funding to the districts which raised the funding.

“Everything goes back to the Elizabethton and carter County schools, as well as grant funding on top of that,” said Tom Manning, a member of the council and of the MR Foundation Board.

Manning said those that would like to donate to the foundation and to the cause of improving special education locally may donate by check to Knights of Columbus Council 10743 with MR in the memo line. Checks may be mailed or delivered to Saint Elizabeth Catholic Church at 510 W. C St. Elizabethton, Tenn. 37643.