News & Events in Oregon
New Ultrasound machine donated by Eugene Knights
April 1, 2011
The Eugene Knights of Columbus have helped purchase a $26,000 ultrasound machine so a local pregnancy aid center can show women the development of their children in utero.
The machine was installed at the 1st Way crisis pregnancy office in Eugene, across the street from Planned Parenthood. Ultrasound images can detect features of unborn children and show the beating heart.
1st Way - non-denominational and non-profit - offers free help to any woman in distress because of an unplanned pregnancy.
Father Mariano Escano, parochial vicar at St. Mary Church, blessed the machine. Also at the blessing were Wayne Clemmer, State Deputy of the Knights, Tom Cary, local Grand Knight, and Erin Roschon, a volunteer who will operate the device.
Funds in addition to those from the local Knights came from the Wolf Family Foundation, other private donors, and the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council.
Studies show that many women who see an ultrasound image and hear a heartbeat coose to keep the child
Donation to Salem Pregnancy Resource Center
Sept. 22, 2010
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Grand Knight Kevin Fredinburg (left) and the members of St. Edward Council 10594 Keizer, OR presents a check for $1500.00 to Richard Rehman of Salem Oregon Pregnancy Resource Center for the purchase of an ultrasound machine. St. Anthony Council 2439 Sublimity, OR and Shaw Council 8270 Shaw, OR also contributed. In addition St. Edward parish held an auction which raised $5,000.00 for the Resource Center.
Astoria Knights get national honor
August 25, 2010
The Knights of Columbus from Astoria Council 1307 won the International Youth Activity award this month for aid and outreach to youth.
The recognition came during the national convention of the Knights of Columbus,
an event attended by 2,000 Knights from nine countries.
The Astoria Knights got the kudos for raising the floor of a parish auditorium
by three feet, bringing it to street level so disabled students at the parish
school and others could access the space easily. The auditorium is used every
day by the students while also serving as the primary activity center for the
parish.
It's a spot for breakfasts, luncheons, socials, dinners, receptions and Bingo.
It's now on level not only with the street, but with the adjoining kitchen,
cafeteria and rest rooms.
Over a four week period a year ago, the Knights took on the massive project to
help people and to save the parish some money. More than 50 members spent a
total of 900 man-hours on the job. It involved installing concrete base walls,
floor joists, sub floors and floor tiles.
The cost of the materials was provided via the estate of a council member
— the late Bill Leahy. A lifelong member of the Knights, Leahy's father
and uncle were charter members of the council in 1908.
Former students of the school also donated to the project. By performing the
work themselves, the Knights saved about $30,000 in labor costs.
The Astoria Knights count almost 170 members, making it one of the larger
councils in Oregon. The council began in 1908.
It averages more than a dozen projects and activities each month, most of them
without fanfare. The council also raises $1,000 to $2,000 each month and
donates to 10 or more different causes each year — Star of the Sea School, St.
Vincent de Paul, Special Olympics, the local pregnancy resource center, Boy
Scouts, typhoon victims in the Phillipines and hurricane victims in Mexico are
a sample.
Read more about the project and award on the council website: http://www.astoriakofc.org/untitled5.html
