The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. The group was founded in the United States in 1882, named in honor of Christopher Columbus.

Although the group's original purposes included offering financial aid to members and their families, it also promotes fellowship through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works.

Beginning with a few members in one council, the Knights of Columbus now has 13,000 councils and 1.7 million members throughout the United States, Canada, the Philippines, Mexico, Poland, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, Cuba, Guatemala, Guam and Saipan.

According to Patrick Korten, vice president for communications at the group's headquarters in New Haven, Conn., Pennsylvania is among the group's larger jurisdictions, with 64,154 members spread among 536 councils.

Korten said the group has grown steadily since the end of World War II, with the exception of 1969 through 1971, which showed slight declines.

Although councils often select charity projects at the local level, the group as a whole has supported the Special Olympics, Habitat for Humanity and the American Wheelchair Mission.

Korten said last year the group donated more than $150 million and 68 million labor hours to charity.