The Hearts Beat On

Jan. 1, 2025

Approaching 2,000 machines donated, the lifesaving impact of the Knights of Columbus Ultrasound Initiative continues to grow

By Elisha Valladares-Cormier

Jan. 1, 2025

Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis (center) joins Knights, family members and staff from Pregnancy Choices in Apple Valley after a ceremony to bless the new ultrasound machine the Knights placed at the center in June 2024. (Photo by Little Mac Design, Courtesy of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapols)

On a sunny day last June, dozens of Knights and family members joined Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis at Pregnancy Choices in Apple Valley, Minnesota, to celebrate the dedication and blessing of a new ultrasound machine donated by the Knights of Columbus.

Six councils, an assembly and a ladies’ auxiliary raised $23,000 in nine months — an amount matched by the Order’s Culture of Life Fund — to purchase the machine, which replaced one purchased by Knights about 10 years ago.

“None of these councils could have done it on their own,” said Paul Laursen, a member of Lakeville Council 8367 and one of the key organizers of the effort. “It had to be a collaboration.”

At the dedication, Archbishop Hebda reflected on the miracle of loaves and fishes, in which Christ took the people’s offering and fed 5,000 people. Today, he said, God uses the Knights’ offerings to help expectant mothers witness the miracle of their babies’ lives.

The Knights of Columbus Ultrasound Initiative provides much-needed ultrasound machines to qualified pregnancy resource centers and pro-life medical clinics. Local councils and assemblies raise half the cost of a machine or mobile ultrasound unit; the Supreme Council, through the Culture of Life Fund, provides the rest. (For councils that entirely fund or refurbish a new mobile unit, the Supreme Council will fund up to 100% of the vehicle’s ultrasound machine.)

Since the flagship pro-life program was launched in January 2009, Knights in the United States and Canada have helped place more than 1,900 machines, worth a total of $91 million. They are on pace to reach 2,000 machines later this year.

The new ultrasound machine in Apple Valley was the 56th donated by Minnesota Knights. The participating councils organized baby bottle campaigns and other fundraisers. Laursen’s council mailed donation requests to each of the council’s 200 or so members, and his wife, Ruth, coordinated a cinnamon roll fundraiser with her ladies’ auxiliary.

“You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to make something like this happen,” Ruth Laursen said.

The donation of the new machine came at a particularly crucial time for Pregnancy Choices. In 2023, the state legislature passed a bill redirecting $3 million away from pro-life pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes. Pregnancy Choices, facing the need for a new ultrasound machine, lost about $180,000 in state funding — roughly 25% of its annual budget.

“In spite of that setback, here they are with a new ultrasound machine,” said Paul Laursen. “We even raised extra money to help them remodel the ultrasound exam room.”

Pregnancy Choices sends regular updates about the lives that are changed — and saved — because of the machine, including a woman who came recently to Pregnancy Choices for a pregnancy test, an ultrasound, and a conversation about pregnancy options.

“She was undecided about how to move forward,” the update read. “[The baby] was unplanned and in conflict with her future plans. Seeing the ultrasound — confirming the pregnancy and seeing the heartbeat — confirmed her decision that she wanted to parent. She walked away … excited for the new life growing in her.”

Learn more about the Ultrasound Initiative at kofc.org/ultrasound.

*****

ELISHA VALLADARES-CORMIER is senior editor of Columbia and a member of Sandusky (Ohio) Council 546.

Chana Gaskins and her three children enjoy some time playing outside.

The Hearts Beat On

Related Articles

Culture of Life

A Space To Grow and Flourish

A Space To Grow and Flourish

Culture of Life

Not MAiD for This

Not MAiD for This

Culture of Life

People, Not Products

People, Not Products

Culture of Life

Knights March for Life in National, Regional Capitals

Knights March for Life in National, Regional Capitals

Culture of Life

For the Joy of Life

For the Joy of Life

Culture of Life

‘Why We March’

‘Why We March’

Culture of Life

Hope in the Heartland

Hope in the Heartland

Culture of Life

Speaking About Abortion

Speaking About Abortion