The New York City Knights of Saint Patrick has donated grants amounting to $60,000 this year to support Irish cultural initiatives throughout Downstate New York.
The Irish American philanthropic organization selected a total of 13 local and regional St. Patrick’s Day parades and charitable causes for its largesse. Among the beneficiaries was the iconic New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a landmark celebration of Irish culture and heritage since 1762.
The New York Archdiocese and Cathedral also received a Knights grant to help defray the costs associated with the celebration at the pre-parade mass at the St. Patrick’s Cathedral on March 17.
Other regional parade committees recipients this year are: Queens, Yonkers, Brooklyn, Bay Ridge, Pearl River, Mahopac, Mineola, Rockville Center, Staten Island, Peekskill and Warwick.
“The Knights were formed to help save the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and, while that remains our primary mission, we are proud to expand our financial support to local parades and cultural events keeping the spirit of Irish America and St. Patrick alive throughout the Metropolitan Area,” said John Tully, Chair of the Knights.
The Knights of St. Patrick was founded more than three decades ago, when a small group of men and women came together to provide much-needed financial aid to the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade during a time of significant financial strain. Since then, the organization has grown to be a leader in the charitable support of the events and institutions supporting the preservation and celebration of Irish culture.
In that time, the Knights have contributed more than $1.85 million in support of New York’s St. Patrick’s Day Parades and other important causes including: New York Irish Center, Irish Arts Center, Emerald Isle Immigration Center, and Solace House.
Regional St. Patrick’s Day parades receiving financial support from the NY City Knights this year are:
- March 1st – Queens County Parade (Rockaway)
- March 2nd – Mineola Parade
- March 9th – Orange County Parade (Warwick) & Northern Westchester-Putnam Parade (Mahopac)
- March 15th – Peekskill Parade
- March 16th – Brooklyn Parade (Park Slope)
- March 17th – New York City Parade (Fifth Avenue)
- March 22nd – Yonkers Parade (McLean Avenue) & Rockville Centre Parade
- March 23rd – Bay Ridge Parade & Rockland County Parade (Pearl River)
The Knights of St. Patrick of New York City is a member-funded 501c(3) nonprofit. Their mission is to preserve and promote the awareness and study of Irish culture as well as ensure the ongoing success of the annual Manhattan parade, which has been a cornerstone of Irish American heritage and pride since before the birth of the United States.
