Knights of Columbus donate $17,000 to Dare and Currituck exceptional student programs

Published 8:17 am Sunday, February 9, 2020

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Members of the Knights of Columbus Annunciata Council #8759 are, front row, from left, John Acierno, Nick Facci, Tim Gregory and Leo Holland; back row, from left, Bryan Kelly, Dave Prentice, Al Tarver, Fran Ziegler, Mike Mueller, Jim Geoff and Kevin McGraff. Danielle Puleo photo

EC teachers from Dare and Currituck counties explaining what they use the donating money for in their own classrooms. Danielle Puleo photo

The Witten family accepting a certificate of appreciation from Nick Facci. Danielle Puleo photo

Jamie Miller with Currituck County schools accepting donations from Nick Facci. Danielle Puleo photo

Bryan Kelly, Knights of Columbus member, receiving the Walter Gray Award from Nick Facci. Danielle Puleo photo

John Acierno, Knights of Columbus member, accepting donations on behalf of the Special Olympics Program from Nick Facci. Danielle Puleo photo

The Knights of Columbus Annunciata Council #8759 gathered at Holy Redeemer by the Sea in Kitty Hawk to award teachers throughout Dare and Currituck counties funds for exceptional children’s programs. Through the “LAMB” (Least Among My Brethren) program, the Knights were able to award $450,000 over the years.

Nick Facci, LAMB coordinator, led the January 27 ceremony. Business sponsors such as Harris Teeter, Walmart, Belk, Duck Donuts and Pizza Stop were recognized as large supporters of the organization and Facci commented that “without them, we wouldn’t be here.”

Although Facci admitted they hadn’t reached their personal goal, they did end up raising $17,000 worth of donations. In the past 35 years the chapter has been alive, they have donated a collective $450,000.

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Facci said he wants to change things up in 2020 to make sure they reach their goals. He asked that if anyone knows someone living down in Rodanthe and Buxton as well as up in Moyock and Grandy, let him know and they’ll get boxes placed in those towns. Facci said “we’ll work out the logistics,” he just wants to make sure they reach as many people as they can.

Jamie Miller and Reida Roberts, directors of Exceptional Children’s Services at Currituck and Dare county schools, respectively, accepted the generous donations from Facci and the Knights of Columbus on behalf of their teachers and staff.

“Our schools are not even down here in Dare County and you still think of us each and every year. It really means a lot,” Miller said. Roberts added, “Our district was impacted by hurricanes and storms, and we have teachers that lost their homes and classrooms. They were able to use Knights of Columbus money to recoup some of their losses and replenish some of their supplies.”

EC teachers from Dare and Currituck were invited up to explain what they have and plan on using the donated money for. One teacher from Cape Hatteras Secondary School started a coffee business with her students where she used the donated money to buy materials like aprons for her students. Another teacher from Manteo Elementary school used the funds to buy leveled readers to go along with her phonics program to help her students read through sound.

Most teachers noted that they use the donations to provide new mathematics, literacy and reading supplies to their students. Deidre Simmons, preschool director at Currituck, said she used the donated money to create a whole new classroom at Shawboro Elementary School.

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