Carl and Dorian Anderson

Carl and Dorian Anderson have devoted their lives to charitable work and serving the Catholic Church. In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed both as members of the Pontifical Council for the Family. Together they witness to the family as the foundational unit of society, and have supported pro-life causes around the world.

As Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus since 2000, Mr. Anderson is the chief executive officer and chairman of the board of the world’s largest Catholic family fraternal benefit society. He has overseen the organization’s steady growth to more than 1.8 million members. Last year, Knights around the world donated more than $170 million to charity, while also contributing 70.5 million hours of volunteer service.

Mr. Anderson also leads the Knights’ life insurance program, to which A.M. Best has awarded its top rating of A++ (Superior) for financial strength. The Knights has more than $94 billion of life insurance in force protecting its members and their families, and has $21 billion in assets under management.

Mr. Anderson holds degrees in philosophy and law and has taught at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Rome. He was the founding vice president and first dean of the Washington, D.C. session of this graduate school of theology located at The Catholic University of America. Under his leadership, the Knights of Columbus purchased and assumed responsibility for the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C., which has been designated as the Saint John Paul II National Shrine. The Shrine recently opened a 16,000-square-foot museum on the life and teaching of St. John Paul II.

Mr. Anderson also serves on several other Vatican advisory bodies: the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and the Pontifical Academy for Life.

The Andersons are members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem as Knight Grand Cross and Lady Grand Cross. They are recipients of the Rector’s Award from the Pontifical North American College, the John Cardinal O’Connor Award from the Sisters of Life, as well as honorary doctorates from The Catholic University of America.

Carl and Dorian have been married for 43 years and have five children and eight grandchildren.