GREENSBORO — A new ultrasound system funded by local Knights of Columbus helped save the life of an unborn child the first week it was in operation.
St. Paul the Apostle Knights of Columbus Council 13236 recently led a fundraising effort to purchase the state-of-the-art ultrasound system for The Pregnancy Network, Inc., a non-denominational Christian organization based in Winston-Salem that offers help to women facing unplanned pregnancies.
The ultrasound system enables the staff to provide same-day ultrasounds in its new Winston-Salem facility. Seeing ultrasound images of their unborn child often helps expectant moms choose against abortion, and this new system saved the life of one unborn child within a week of being installed, staff reported.
Council 13236 kicked off the fundraising effort for the system last October, committing to provide funds and help The Pregnancy Network acquire the equipment. The North Carolina Knights State Council donated half of the $35,000 equipment cost, and council members raised additional money and received donations from other Knights councils in the region to secure the remaining amount.
Several Knights councils generously donated funds to make the purchase possible: Our Lady of Grace Council 939, Holy Cross Council 8508, Holy Family Council 9499, Our Lady of Mercy Council 10504, St. Pius X Council 11101, Good Shepherd Council 11267, St. Francis of Assisi Council 12610, Abbot Vincent G. Taylor 4th Degree Assembly 779, and The Knights Club of Greensboro.
A check for $17,500 from the Knights was presented to Judy Roderick, executive director of The Pregnancy Network, and her staff at their new Winston-Salem facility.
Attending the presentation were Greensboro District Deputy John Joyce, Winston-Salem District Deputy Stephen Grimaldi, and St. Paul Council 13236 members Manny Comas (Grand Knight), Peter Ashby (Deputy Grand Knight), Gary Chapman (Financial Secretary), Ken Waldron (Culture of Life Director), Denis Murray (Trustee), and Larry Hill (Chancellor) not pictured.
— Larry Hill is a member of St. Paul Catholic Church Knights of Columbus Council 13236 in Greensboro.