DENVER — Members of the media are invited to a briefing Monday, Aug. 1, 2011, at 2:30 p.m. at the Sheraton Hotel (Director's Row H) in downtown Denver at which the Knights of Columbus will brief the media on the organization's 129th International Convention being held in Denver Aug. 2-4.

The news conference will cover:

The issues likely to be discussed at the convention
The schedule highlights of the convention
A brief history of Denver's importance in the history of the Knights of Columbus
The participation of 85 bishops and cardinals ? one of the largest gatherings in the United States outside of the annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
The announcement and details of a U.S. tour of the Haitian soccer amputee team that will include soccer clinics for wounded and amputee military personnel

This latter announcement will mark the next step in the Knights of Columbus' work in Haiti with Project Medishare. The Healing Haiti's Children program makes rehabilitation and prosthetic care available to every child injured in the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake in Port au Prince. To date, the program has provided hundreds of severely injured children with prosthetic /orthotic care and much needed rehabilitation. Included in the rehabilitation is the "Return to Sport" program where Team Zaryen, Haiti's amputee soccer team, coaches children in this fast-paced sport so that they too can enjoy the fun and excitement of sport and lead a normal life.

Members of Team Zaryen, the amputee soccer team from Haiti, will be present at the news conference.

Speaking at the news conference will be:

Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M., Cap., who will introduce the Knights of Columbus and provide some introductory remarks.

Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, leader of the 1.8 million member Knights of Columbus, who will discuss the plans for the convention.

Dr. Robert Gailey, Director of Rehabilitation Services for Project Medishare, who will provide details on the ongoing work in Haiti and the planned fall tour of the amputee soccer team which will include clinics with our wounded military service members as a way of thanking the United States for their support of the Haitian people following the quake.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS ? ONE COLUMBUS PLAZA ? NEW HAVEN, CT. 06510 WWW.KOFC.ORG

Andrew Walther, VP for Communications and Media andrew.walther@kofc.org or (203) 824-5412

/PRNewswire-USNewswire — July 29, 2011/

SOURCE Knights of Columbus