Contact: Steven Vanderpool, Vice President, Communications, LA2015, 213-892-6069; 626-375-9208 mobile, steven.vanderpool@la2015.org; Andrew Walther, Vice President, Communications, Knights of Columbus, 203-824-5412 mobile, andrew.walther@KofC.org; Carolina Guevara, Chief Communication Officer, Archdiocese of Los Angeles, CGuevara@la-archdiocese.org, 213-276-2272 mobile

LOS ANGELES, July 14, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Knights of Columbus will be joined by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which will announce its spiritual support for the athletes attending the LA2015 Special Olympics World Games.

WHAT: Announcement event for the Knights of Columbus / Archdiocese of Los Angeles / Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015 (LA2015)

WHY: The Knights of Columbus has pledged $1.4 million for the LA2015 "Support an Athlete" fundraising effort, which is aiming to raise $17 million to cover on-the-ground costs of the 7,000 athletes visiting Los Angeles next July.  The archdiocese will also announce its program of spiritual support for the athletes. And Special Olympics will name the Knights of Columbus as a Founding Champion of the World Games.    

WHERE/WHEN: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
3911 S Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90037, United States
Monday, July 14th at 10 AM

OPPORTUNITIES: The event will include the following available spokespersons:

• Archbishop José H. Gomez, Archdiocese of Los Angeles
   
• Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of Knights of Columbus
   
• Patrick McClenahan, President and CEO of LA 2015
   
• Caley Versfelt, Special Olympics World Games Global Messenger
   
• Marco Martinez, Special Olympics World Games Global Messenger
   
• Eduardo Verastegui, Actor
   
• Special Olympics Athletes & Global Messengers

The event will provide the following visuals:

• Archbishop Blessing for the LA2015 and LA Coliseum Olympic Grounds
   
• Bocce game with Special Olympic Athletes, Archbishop Gomez, Carl Anderson, Patrick McClenahan and Eduardo Verastegui
   
• LA2015 Flag provided by Special Olympic athletes to the Archbishop and Supreme Knight
   
• Announcement of $1.4 million donation by Supreme Knight Carl Anderson

ABOUT: About the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015
With 7,000 athletes and 3,000 coaches representing 177 countries, along with 30,000 volunteers and an anticipated 500,000 spectators, the Special Olympics World Games Los Angeles 2015 (LA2015) will be the largest sports-and-humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015, and the single biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games. For more information on the LA2015, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.LA2015.org.
 
About the Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal organization, with more than 1.8 million members worldwide. Last year, Knights set new records for giving, with more $170 million and 70 million hours of service donated to charitable causes. The Knights of Columbus has been strong supporters of Special Olympics since its very first games in 1968. visit www.kofc.org
 
About the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is the largest Catholic Archdiocese in the United States with more than five million Catholics. The diocese was established in 1840, and was created an archbishopric in 1936. Archbishop José Horacio Gómez is the fifth Archbishop of Los Angeles. There are a total of 287 parishes located in 120 cities throughout the Archdiocese.
  
CONTACT: Steven Vanderpool – LA2015, Vice President, Communications
steven.vanderpool@la2015.org
Office: 213.892.6069; Mobile: 626.375.9208

Andrew Walther – Knights of Columbus, Vice President, Communications
andrew.walther@KofC.org
Mobile: 203-824-5412

Carolina Guevara – Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Chief Communication Officer
CGuevara@la-archdiocese.org
Mobile: (213) 276-2272