Council Recognized for Earlier Pro-Life Efforts

In 2025, Orange Park Council 7399 and Most Holy Redeemer Council 17029 were recognized in the Knights of Columbus Columbia Magazine for their fundraising efforts to purchase an Ultrasound machine for the Women’s Help Center’s Jacksonville Westside location.

The effort began so long ago that who started it or when it started has faded into oblivion.  However, Council 7399 at St. Catherine of Siena always dreamed that there would be enough funds in its Charity Account to secure matching funds from the Knights of Columbus home office in Connecticut.

The Ultrasound Program sponsored by the Supreme Council will match up to half the cost of an ultrasound machine being provided to a qualified pro-life women’s help center.  With the cost of these machines approaching $40,000, it meant that the council would need almost $20,000 to achieve their goal.

During the last few months of Lou Manz’s tenure as Grand Knight, the Charity Account had grown to a significant amount. The Council, listening to its Trustee, Jay Heather, was reminded that we were not in business to save money, but to donate it to charity.  And so, the Council set its sights on seeking the matching funds from Supreme.

To do this, they would need almost $19,000 and while the Charity Account was significant, they were still almost $10,000 from their goal without bankrupting the account.  Afraid that they could not do this on their own, Council member and District Deputy, Tom Scherch approached the Councils in his District and was able to secure a commitment of $5,000 from Most Holy Redeemer Council 17029.  This meant they were within $5,000 of their target to get matching funds.

In April of 2024, the Council held a spaghetti dinner fundraiser to secure the additional funding to meet the required one-half of the cost of the ultrasound machine. The dinner was successful and Grand Knight, Lou Manz and Life Director, David Coughlin prepared the mountain of paperwork required to secure the commitment from Supreme.

In September of 2024, the dream became a reality and, with the matching funding from Supreme, these two local Councils were able to present the Women’s Help Center of Jacksonville’s Westside with their ultrasound.  By then, David Coughlin was now the Grand Knight and as the former Life Director was proud to join his fellow Knights as they presented this life-saving gift to the Women’s Help Center.

A year later, Supreme honored both Councils with an article in their monthly magazine.