The Archbishop Duke Council from Richmond, British Columbia, was awarded for its work to promote the culture of life. The group helped organize a local "40 Days of Life" campaign by coordinating two 24-hour prayer vigils in front of a local abortion clinic.
A statement by the Knights explained that the council's pro-life chairs "spearheaded the effort to promote the campaign and sign-up parishioners and brother Knights."
Ninety council members participated in the effort, teaming with other pro-life groups in the parish. Archbishop J. Michael Miller of Vancouver also joined members of the council in their public demonstration for life.
The Youth Activity Award was given to the St. Louis Guanella Council in Chelsea, Mich., for its work with the Children's Peace Project, which aims to "foster unity in Christ among Middle East and Western Christians."
Members worked with the Holy Land Ecumenical Foundation to host high school students from the Holy Land. The council conducted fundraisers to pay for the students' trips, and council families hosted them during their stay.
Council members also sponsored "the education of a student at a Holy Land Christian school" and held "ongoing gift sales" to support Christians in the Holy Land, the Knights said.
In addition to the annual awards given at the ceremony, the Knights issued religious freedom awards for the first time this year.
The organization presented a religious freedom award to a council in Kalispell, Mont. that has worked to defend a statue of Christ that serves as a war memorial on Big Mountain. The statue has been targeted by an anti-religious group which is demanding its removal.
The religious freedom award was also given to a council in Pitman, N.J., which has launched a grassroots campaign to protect a "Keep Christ in Christmas" banner from similar attacks.
Members of the council worked with residents, small business owners, media, parishes and government officials in the effort, which "offered a powerful public witness," the Knights said.
Updated on August 13th, 2012 at 10:55 a.m. MST. Corrects the last name of the Family of the Year to "Gilbert," instead of "Paul." Changes status of Daniel Gilbert to being a current seminarian.