The Knights of Columbus continues to help advance the life-serving mission of Vida Medical Clinic and Support Services through their ongoing generosity and support.
Giving Increased in 2022
In January 2023, Grand Knight Craig Cummings, from Knights of Columbus Msgr. Gehl Council 7895 in Hortonville, presented its 2022 baby bottle drive donation of $3,600 to help support Vida’s medical operations and mission. Knights of Council 7895 collected parishioner donations throughout 2022 from SS Peter & Paul Church in Hortonville, St. Denis Church in Shiocton, and St. Patrick Church in Stephensville. The parishes that supported the Knights’ baby bottle drive are also members of the Vida Church Partner Program, which not only supports Vida through financial donations, but also through supply donations, and prayer throughout the year.
“Our churches continue to amaze me with their generosity during our annual baby bottle drives,” Cummings said.
Long History of Giving and Support
This most recent donation follows years of support from Council 7895 and other Councils. In 2021, Council 7895 donated $2,200 from its baby bottle drive to further support the ultrasound machine they helped procure for Vida back in 2020. Over the years, their donations have supported the upkeep of the Vida Medical Clinic ultrasound machine and for purchase of other needed medical clinic supplies. Additionally, the donations have supported ongoing ultrasound training for Vida’s team of licensed medical providers and nurses. Since 2018, local Knights have donated more than $75,000 in financial giving to Vida.
That includes more than $28,000 raised (along with matching funds from the national Knights of Columbus Ultrasound Initiative and the Supreme Council’s Culture of Life Fund,) for Vida’s new ultrasound machine. The Knights also fundraised for Vida’s previous ultrasound machine purchase in 2012. Both donations were part of the national Knights of Columbus Ultrasound Initiative, which had donated more than 1,500 ultrasound machines to medical clinics and pregnancy resource centers across the world since 2009.
“It is our great pleasure to work alongside the members of the Knights of Columbus in the Fox Valley and beyond. We are grateful for their continued enthusiastic support of our shared mission to affirm the inherent dignity of the human person by showing great love and compassion to every individual we serve,” Vida Executive Director Anne Tretinyak said.
New International Match Program Generates Additional Funds
Aid and Support After Pregnancy (ASAP), an international Knights of Columbus effort was revamped and launched in 2022, to better support pregnant women, mothers, couples, and their families by supporting clinics and centers like Vida. Through ASAP, every $500 a Council or Assembly donates to a qualifying non-profit center, such as Vida, the Supreme Council will issue a $100 grant to the same qualifying organization, up to $400. This annual matching benefit helps Vida to expand services and serve even more women, men, and families in the region. Councils across the Fox Valley have begun to utilize this matching program after submitting their donations to Vida. Vida PR/Marketing Manager Beth Knapinski can provide additional details and paperwork regarding this program for Councils still interested in participating.
