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| Grand Knight Bob Honzik presenting award to Milt and Janice Spaniel |
Milt has served as the Council’s Community Director for the past five years with 14 chairmen for the 19 programs. His organizational abilities and his talent for motivating people have been largely responsible for the success of the programs under his purview.
One of the highlights of Milt’s service has been the great success of the Campaign for People with Intellectual Disabilities (CPID). His dedication to the five Charities recipient organizations has brought immeasurable good will to the council and to the Knights of Columbus in general. With Milt's leadership over the five years and 175 volunteer Knights and spouses involved, starting in 2010 with $6,000 the first year, the amounts per year have increased each year to $23,359 in 2014. The financial progress continued increasing over the past five years is reflected in the total funds raised of $73,000. During these five years there were significant Knights personal donations of $5,575 from 121 Knights in 2014.
Milt also chaired the business portion of CPID by coordinating the efforts of 17 solicitor Knights personally contacting 97 local and area businesses. They received donations from 74 businesses that amounted to a 256% increase from $390 in 2010 to $10,000 in 2014. Significantly, many of the businesses contacted by Milt and his staff had little if any knowledge about the Knights of Columbus. Favorable results can be judged by the willingness of the number of businesses initially from a few willing to donate $250 to 30 donors in 2014. Recognition in the Voice in two full page ads have been of tremendous help
Milt Spaniel and his wife, Janice, have also been exemplary parishioners and are very active in Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, as they participate in its many worship and social activities. They are weekly Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration adorers at both Sacred Heart and at St. Vincent's Hospital. Janice sings in the choir and is a co-chair of the All Saints Guild.
Milt Spaniel leadership is certainly not his only charitable endeavor as Director for the Campaign for people with Intellectual disabilities as he has:
- has been a grant writer who has netted $3,500 from Walmart.
- assisted in recruiting volunteer Knights and spouses to help operate Olympic Town at the Arkansas Special Olympics in Searcy.
- co-founded the Petit Jean Ham Sales fundraiser in 2006 and works the project every year
- manages volunteers to call Friday evening bingo at Good Samaritan Home.
- works for the annual distribution of food and gifts to local families in need.
- delivers food from the Rice Depot in Little Rock to eight families in Hot Springs
- volunteers as a fundraiser and instructor for the Junior Golf program (12 years).