As all of you know, Supreme’s Aid and Support After Pregnancy (ASAP) program has been an outstanding success over the last two years. This program enables Council donations to pregnancy centers and maternal homes to be supplemented with matching funds from Supreme up to a certain dollar amount. Many of you have enthusiastically embraced this program, driving Florida to #1 in the Order in FY 2022-2023 and currently #5 in this Fraternal Year.
Supreme has recently come out with a Jurisdictional (statewide) ASAP “Pass the Hat” incentive, whereby Supreme will match 25% of the collective contributions of Councils up to $50,000 by the end of May to pregnancy centers and maternal homes that the State Council designates. We are asking all Councils to participate in this short-term fundraising project. Here is how it will work.
(1) One ASAP-eligible organization in each Diocese in Florida has been selected as a recipient (See the list below).
(2) Florida K of C Charities has voted to contribute $35,000 from the State Helping Life Fund, which is comprised primarily of previous donations by individuals to the Fund.
(3) To raise the remaining $15,000, we are asking participating Councils to make a pledge to the State Helping Life Fund no later than May 26, 2024 (the end of the State Convention) so that we can make Supreme’s deadline for applying for matching funds. We would like to have all funds received, if possible, by June 30, 2024.
(4) We will ensure that each Council’s donation for this initiative goes to the eligible organization that is in the same Diocese as the Council.
We hope that this effort will underline the commitment of the Knights of Columbus in Florida to the sacredness and dignity of all human life from conception to natural death.
There are many pregnancy centers and maternal homes in Florida worthy of our support. We tried to focus our selections on those who serve the poorer areas of each Diocese. The organizations chosen for this initiative are:
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee: Pregnancy Resource Center (Panama City)
Diocese of St Augustine: Divine Mercy House (Jacksonville)
Diocese of Orlando: Choices Womens Clinic (Orlando)
Diocese of St Petersburg: Catholic Charities Foundations of Life (Tampa)
Diocese of Venice: Pregnancy Solutions (Arcadia)
Diocese of Palm Beach: Birthline Lifeline Pregnancy Care Center (Fort Pierce)
Archdiocese of Miami: Respect Life Ministries (North Miami)
I realize that it takes time to approve actual Council expenditures over $500. In order to meet Supreme deadlines for this incentive, however, if your Council wishes to participate, I ask that you email a pledge of an amount you believe your Council would approve to the address ASAP@floridakofc.org with the following information:
Council #
Pledge Amount
Anticipated Pledge Fulfillment Date
Council Point of Contact (Name and Email)
Checks should be made out to Florida K of C Charities, with a memo indicating Helping Life Fund ASAP Initiative, and sent to
Florida K of C Charities
c/o Rich Dahn, VP
4801 Bonita Bay Blvd #203
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
If you have any questions, please contact the State Life Director Steve Zajac.
Thank you in advance for your consideration of this initiative. I hope to see all of you at the State Convention!
Fraternally,
Rick
Rick Hughes
State Deputy
(813) 545-8046
