Care Net Fundraising with Council 13005

Photo caption- from left to right, Marilyn Michalka, Carl London, Kevin Warapius, Ann Warapius, Paul Michalka, B.J. Todaro, Bob Potter, Mike Scheer, Kelly Williams, Gilbert Silva, Suzanne Nesmith, Douglas Nesmith, Sylvia Silva, Dalene London

When Care Net of Waco needed help with their fundraising event 11 years ago, they found a great partner in Knights of Columbus Council #13005 from St. Jerome’s Catholic Church in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1975, Care Net is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that empowers women and men considering abortion to choose life for their unborn children and find abundant life in Christ and Council #13005 had many members that felt this would be an organization where our efforts could be utilized to produce amazing results. Over the past 11 years, hundreds of hours of volunteer labor by the Knights and their wives have helped raise funds to keep the Care Net mission on track. Care Net’s mission…”Acknowledging that every human life begins at conception and is worthy of protection, Care Net offers compassion, hope, and help to anyone considering abortion by presenting them with realistic alternatives and Christ-centered support through a life-affirming network of pregnancy centers, churches, organizations, and individuals.” Each year at their annual fundraising barbecue, fifteen to twenty Knights and wives help serve food to a very supportive public interested in fulfilling this mission. According to Care Net CEO Deborah McGregor, this year alone, the Knights and their wives served almost 1300 plates and helped raise over $21,000. Since 2008, Care Net in North America has put this mission into practice and has saved more than 748,000 babies from abortion. Director of the volunteer effort for Council #13005, former Grand Knight Carl London stated, ”We have been pleased to partner with Care Net in this effort for the past 11 years and have never had trouble finding plenty of volunteer help among the Knights of #13005.” Another former Grand Knight Tony Raineri recalls eight years ago when the Knights raised a total of $62,000 including a matching grant of $25,000 from Knights of Columbus Supreme to help Care Net purchase an Ultrasound device. As the men of Council #13005 are aware, “Charity is at the heart of our work and our faith — and it always has been. For the Knights of Columbus, charity means supporting a virtually boundless variety of projects.” This is just one of the many charities that the men of Council #13005 support with boundless energy and enthusiasm.