Program Celebrating Five Years, 50 States, 500 Machines
Contact: Joe Cullen, 203-800-4923, joseph.cullen@kofc.org; Andrew Walther, 203-752-4253, Andrew.walther@kofc.org; both with Knights of Columbus
BALTIMORE, Md., Nov. 4, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Knights of Columbus has funded the purchase of an ultrasound machine for a Baltimore area pregnancy center, making it the 500th such gift by the Knights to a pregnancy center dedicated to helping women keep and care for their unborn babies.
"When we began this program five years ago, we hoped to put a machine in every state," said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson before presenting the ultrasound machine to the Greater Baltimore Center for Pregnancy Concerns for use at its Dundalk, MD, facility. "But this program has been even more successful because of the great need and the generosity of brother Knights from coast to coast."
He added: "Not only has this program saved the lives of countless unborn children, but it has saved many mothers – and fathers – from a lifetime of regret."
Anderson made the presentation along with the Knights' Supreme Chaplain and Archbishop of Baltimore William Lori at an annual meeting of K of C leaders from around the world held at the Baltimore Hilton.
The Knights' Ultrasound Initiative began in January 2009 with 13 machines purchased in the first year. The program has since expanded to all 50 U.S. states, Canada and Jamaica, and employs the latest technology that allows a mother to see clearly the child alive in her womb.
U.S. states with the largest number of ultrasound machines funded by the Knights include Texas (40), Missouri (35), Florida (34), California (33) and Michigan (30). The latest ultrasound machine with K of C funding is the 12th to be located in Maryland.
The program encourages state and local Knights councils to assist qualified pregnancy resource centers in their areas by raising half the cost of an ultrasound machine. The K of C Supreme Council's Culture of Life Fund then matches those dollars to contribute to the purchase of a machine, with the cost per machine starting at about $20,000. To date, Knights of Columbus councils have spent nearly $7.5 million, with just over $7.5 million provided by the Supreme Council. The total value of the ultrasound machines provided thus far is nearly $26 million.
The initiative continues to expand and adapt to changing needs. For example, in recent years there has been a rise in the use of mobile ultrasound machines that can serve a number of communities.
The Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by Father Michael J. McGivney, a parish priest in New Haven, Connecticut. With charity as its central commitment, the organization has grown to 1.8 million members worldwide. During the past year, Knights donated more than $170 million and more than 70.5 million hours of service to charitable causes.
