KOVAR
WHO ARE
THEY?
KOVAR Knights of Virginia, Assistance For The Retarded is a Knights of Columbus sponsored, Virginia chartered, tax-exempt corporation instituted in 1971. The express purpose of KOVAR is to provide financial assistance to Virginia 501(c)(3) corporations who exist to assist the mentally retarded. KOVAR's focus is on the retarded as opposed to the broad category of mentally handicapped, which can include all sorts of mental diseases and conditions.
KOVAR is managed by a Board of Directors, who are elected from members of the various Knights of Columbus councils throughout the State of Virginia. The Board oversees the operations of KOVAR as well as manages the Grant, and the Interest Free Loan programs which KOVAR sponsors.
The two above programs distribute ALL of the monies raised by KOVAR, except for funds used for the cost of promotional materials. There are no salaries or other expenses paid out of KOVAR funds.
KOVAR monies are raised by the various K of C Councils throughout the state. Various methods are used, but the most common are Collections at storefronts, banks, factories, churches, and the like. The Knights, wives, and others, with their identifiable aprons, stand in front of these places and hand out Tootsie rolls, while they solicit funds.
Since
1971, over $10 Million has been collected and over $8.5 Million has been
distributed to help the retarded. KOVAR
currently holds approximately $1.5 Million in reserve. We are happy
to report that during that same time frame, over $717 Thousand has been
returned to the Northern Shenandoah Valley in the form of grants and
interest free loans and an additional $683 Thousand has been granted to
the lower segment of the Valley for a total of $1.4 Million dollars of aid
to our own retarded citizens. KOVAR
deserves our support.
2003/04 KofC Council 9002, KOVAR Chairman,
Jerry John
