Program Overview
More than 3,000 pro-life pregnancy centers now operate throughout territories of the Knights of Columbus, at least 93 in North Carolina (compared to 14 abortion clinics in NC). By the very nature of its founding, the Knights of Columbus is called to care for the widow and orphan. Abortion-vulnerable unborn children and mothers experiencing unexpected pregnancies certainly fall within that mandate. With aid from the Knights, pregnancy centers can offer support to help women choose life. Councils can “adopt” a pregnancy center and provide material, labor, and spiritual support throughout the year. Through the ASAP Initiative, for every $500 your council or assembly donates to a pregnancy resource center or maternity home (up to $2,000), the Supreme Council will donate $100. Visit
Aid and Support After Pregnancy (ASAP) for resources.
The State Council, working with the KofC Charitable Fund organization, has established a Pro-Life Restricted Fund. This fund is established to accept Knights’ and council donations into a KofC NC 501(c)(3) charitable account for Pregnancy Center and Maternity Home support (ASAP qualified) that would offer tax deductible receipts and accept IRA Qualified Charitable Donations (QCDs), particularly for Knights who have an RMD (Required Minimum Distribution) based on age (72 years) and an IRA. This fund is now available for deposits. Note that Qualified Charitable Distributions can be taken from an IRA for anyone 70.5 years and older.
Your NC State Officers are working with other NC ProLife organizations to ascertain needs and locations for new or expanded NC Pregnancy Centers in unserved or underserved sections of our state. Oftentimes, our larger councils are in areas where there are already Pregnancy Centers serving that area well. We understand that these larger councils are typically willing to help fund centers in less served areas. As needs arise, your NC Life team will be reaching out to larger councils to assist these new and expanded pregnancy centers. The new NC Restricted Fund is especially set up to help.
Pregnant mothers are often challenged with financial, time, emotional, or other issues which cause them to feel they can not raise their unborn child. If this issue cannot be overcome, our advice and assistance is to choose adoption, either by another family member (such as a grandparent) or a qualified family wanting a baby. We need to be adamant that there always is an option for the mother to raise the child: the Adoption Option! We must help Adoption Agencies in their work and needs, and work with pregnancy centers and maternity homes to influence adoption as the proper option.
Room at the Inn is expanding with a new greenfield site in the Kernersville, NC area. Their capital campaign to raise $10.5 Million kicked off in September, 2023. This site will provide non-resident support for underserved women in the Guilford County surrounding 14 counties, with such services as child care and job training. This is one of two Catholic Maternity Centers in NC, founded and operated by Brother Knight Albert Hodges. Brother John Killela will be coordinating a fund drive for this expansion beginning the latter part of this fraternal year.
Program Requirements
Councils are required to contact a local pregnancy center to assess its needs and support the center through fundraising, volunteering, or prayer. Report activity using the online Program Report Form (#10784). Through ASAP, for every $500 a council donates to a qualifying pregnancy resource center or maternity home (up to $2,000), the Supreme Council will donate $100 more. A Council can receive matching funds for multiple agencies, the same agency may benefit from multiple Councils, and the Restricted Fund can be used to target qualified agencies.
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Program Posts