Knights donate ultrasound to North Port pregnancy clinic

The Knights of Columbus have done it again. The Ponce Deleon Council 8074, of Sacred Heart Parish in Punta Gorda, raised the money to purchase an ultrasound machine for Pregnancy Solutions in North Port.

Bishop Frank J. Dewane led the Blessing and Dedication Ceremony at Pregnancy Solutions on April 23, 2025.

During the ceremony, Bishop Dewane praised the Knights for turning their support of pro-life into something so tangible as an ultrasound machine. “I want to thank you for all the work you have done in support of the pro-life movement,” Bishop Dewane said. “It takes courage to stand up for life while also encouraging others to pay attention to this issue.”

Pregnancy Solutions is a pro-life clinic, with four locations in Sarasota, Charlotte and Desoto counties, that provide a variety of services to pregnant women. The clinic offers a free ultrasound, as well as counseling and support services throughout a pregnancy, including support for the fathers.

The new ultrasound machine includes 3D/4D imaging modes and color Doppler. This technology allows mothers to see their baby earlier than ever. Even at six weeks gestation, parents and family see in detail the beginning of their baby’s development. Approximately 90% of women who view these clear images choose life for their baby!

Steve Kowalski, a Knights Trustee who helped raise the necessary money for the ultrasound, said the Council distributed 1,000 empty baby bottles to parishioners. The bottles were returned filled with spare change, cash and checks. The result was an incredible $20,000 raised in less than a month.

Thanks to the Ultrasound Initiative, the Supreme Council of the U.S. provided a 50 percent matching grant for the $38,000 machine. Kowalski said the Council has a partnership with a pro-life group that covered $7,000 of the total local cost, which meant the Knights used $12,000 of the $20,000 raised on the ultrasound. With the $8,000 remaining, the Council distributed the funds evenly between the four Pregnancy Solutions clinics.

Kowalski said the Knights raise the money to buy ultrasound machines because couples deserve to know the truth about life.

“With this machine, parents will be able to see the baby during the early stages of pregnancy. God has a purpose for this machine at this location, that is to save lives. It’s amazing how the Holy Spirit works.”

Pregnancy Solutions Chief Executive Officer Jaqueline Zdrojowy said the clinics have been blessed to have several ultrasounds donated by Knights Council through the years. Zdrojowy went on to explain the machine’s importance, because many women who come to the clinic with abortion in mind, already having the abortion pill at home.

“They think they are going to see an ultrasound as a confirmation of how far along they are in their pregnancy and then go right back home. Instead, they encounter the love of God in our centers, and they see the image of their baby on the screen, and they leave forever changed.”

Since the national Knights program began in 2012, within the Diocese of Venice more than 30 ultrasound machines, as well as 2 mobile units, have been placed in pro-life pregnancy resource centers.

To learn more about Pregnancy Solutions, please visit https://pregnancysolutions.org/.

For information about Respect Life activities in the Diocese of Venice, visit www.dioceseofvenice.org/respectlife, or contact Diocesan Respect Life Director Tavia Ames at ames@dioceseofvenice.org.

Knights donate ultrasound

The Knights of Columbus have done it again. They raised the money to purchase an ultrasound machine for a local pro-life pregnancy care center.

The Knights of Columbus Council 11281 of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples recently donated an ultrasound to the Community Pregnancy Clinics, Inc. (CPCI) pregnancy center at 2977 Goodlette-Frank Road, which is located across the street from a Planned Parenthood abortion facility.

Father Tomasz Zalewski, Pastor of St. John the Evangelist, led the Blessing and Dedication Ceremony at the CPCI clinic on Feb. 23, 2023. Father Nick Thompson, Parochial Vicar at St. John the Evangelist, proclaimed the Gospel reading. Then, Father Zalewski blessed the ultrasound.

Father Zalewski quoted God’s promise through the prophet Isaiah, “Can a mother forget her infant? Be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.” Father also emphasized that all human life is a gift from God, and that we are each called to help build a Culture of Life in our community.

Scott Baier, CEO of CPCI, spoke about the importance of ultrasound technology and thanked St. John the Evangelist Parish and the Knights of Columbus for donating the machine. CPCI operates pregnancy clinics in Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota and Gainesville – as well as two mobile clinics. CPCI has established its presence as a trusted provider of life-affirming pregnancy and reproductive healthcare in the community.

The donated ultrasound is a Philips ClearVue 850 Ultrasound Machine. The machine includes 3D/4D imaging modes and color Doppler. This technology allows mothers to see their baby earlier than ever. Even at six weeks gestation, parents and family see in detail the beginning of their baby’s development. Approximately 90% of women who view these clear images choose life for their baby!

Leona and Tony Hernandez, parishioners of St. John the Evangelist, volunteered to help with the Ultrasound machine demonstration. Among the 25 attendees at the dedication ceremony were CPCI staff, Knights and other supporters of the clinic. All were extremely impressed with the clear and powerful images of the Hernandez’ preborn child.

Knights Council 11281 Grand Knight, Paul Curti, explained that the Council held various events (including a Baby Bottle Drive and an outdoor Country Life Fest concert) to raise money for the ultrasound machine and other donations to local Pro-Life organizations.

Central Florida Laps for Life provided additional funding, and the Supreme Knights of Columbus Council provides a dollar-for-dollar match for ultrasound purchases.

Through the Ultrasound Initiative, the Supreme Council of the US provides a 50 percent matching grant and has helped to place more than 1,600 ultrasound machines into pro-life pregnancy centers across the nation.

Since the program began in 2012, within the Diocese of Venice 22 ultrasound machines, as well as 1 mobile unit, have been placed in Pro-Life pregnancy resource centers thanks to the Knights.

“Diocese of Venice Councils have donated more than $400,000 for ultrasound machines,” Drew Dillingham, Knights of Columbus National Life and Faith Program Manager, stated. “The Supreme Council has matched that amount, so over $800,000 in total has been donated by the K of C. More machines have been placed in the (territory of the) Diocese of Venice, than in 23 U.S. states.”

To learn more about the Knights of Columbus Ultrasound Initiative, please visit https://communitypregnancyclinic.com/.

 

To learn more about Community Pregnancy Clinics, please visit https://communitypregnancyclinic.com/.