Our council has a long and proud history, dating back to our founding in 1910 by a group of Notre Dame students including the future Cardinal John Francis O’Hara. It was the first Knights of Columbus College Council in the world. Since then, thousands of Knights have volunteered tens of thousands of hours, raised millions of dollars, and made immeasurable strides in their faiths.
Thanks to the hard work of Past Grand Knight Eli Shaheen, the council raised enough money over the years to start a Knights of Columbus scholarship endowment. Eli and the council gifted the funds to the university to provide scholarships for Notre Dame students in need, and as a token of gratitude, Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, CSC, then-president of the university, provided the Knights with their current council hall. The Knights and University leadership have worked hand-in-hand over the years to advance Catholic culture at Notre Dame.
In 1968, the council took another exciting step when it converted its small tailgate into one of the largest student-run fundraisers at Notre Dame. The Knights started grilling steak sandwiches, selling them to Game Day fans, and donating all proceeds to charity. In the half-century since, Steak Sales have become a beloved Notre Dame game-day tradition, with many fans returning each game to fill their stomachs and support their community. Since the founding of Steak Sales, the Knights have raised over $1.5 million for various local, national, and international charities. In 2017, the Steak Sales reached new heights, raising a record $100,000 in a single season.
The Knights continue their religious, charitable, and fraternal work today. Whether it be through selling steak sandwiches, volunteering around South Bend, or inviting campus members over to the council hall for an away game watch, the Notre Dame Knights of Columbus are fiercely committed to serving all our brothers and sisters. Make sure to check out the videos below about our council!
Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions, whether they be about our council’s work, opportunities for potential partnerships, or how to support the work of our council.