The Saint Mary Mokena Knights of Columbus (KOC) led 28 other Knights’ councils across the Joliet diocese to help purchase an ultrasound machine for Waterleaf, an Aurora, IL-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting pregnant women.
The Knights presented a check for $43,000 to the organization last month as a way of supporting the pro-Catholic pregnancy center. “We are thrilled to do this for Waterleaf as they are the only Catholic-centric pregnancy center in the Joliet Diocese qualified to operate an ultrasound machine,” says Cliff Peloquin, pro-life director for the St. Mary Mokena KOC.
Fundraising for the Knights takes place all year through events like pancake breakfasts, spaghetti dinners and turtle races. It is through these efforts that the Knights raised the money to purchase the ultrasound machine.
Waterleaf is located a mere three blocks from the second-largest Planned Parenthood facility in the United States in Aurora and provides a variety of medical and professional services aimed at helping women through their pregnancies, including testing, ultrasound, education and mentoring. They also offer 24/7 telephone support for those struggling with their pregnancies.
For more information, or to contact the center, please visit http://www.waterleafwc.org/contact-us/
Featured image (from left to right): Cliff Peloquin, pro-life director, St. Mary Mokena Knights of Columbus; Mary Griffith, developmental director at Waterleaf; Barry Cullum Grand Knight, St. Mary Mokena Knights of Columbus.
The Mokena Marian 