Texas Knights of Columbus homepage
Finish Line Texas Knight Read the latest issue Meeting Registration Register for upcoming meetings and events State Per Capita Dues Pay State Per Capita Dues Online Mid-Year Meeting Presentations (English) Donate Now Donate to State Council Charities Faith In Action Resources Pay State Charities Online Pay Council Charities Online
Texas Knights of Columbus
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Our History
    • Message from the State Deputy
    • State Officers
    • Why Join the Knights of Columbus?
  • Star Guide
    • Membership
    • Star Councils Awards
    • Council Growth
    • Programs
    • Education, Training & Communications
    • Charities
    • Football Sweepstakes
    • Texas State Council Office
  • News
  • Blog
  • Events

Knights Respond ASAP

Posted Aug 03, 2022
by Mark Johnson

Share        

By Cecilia Hadley7/31/2022

Grand Knight Harry Larkin (left) and other members of Santa Rosa de Lima Council 12522 in Andice, Texas, present a donation to Jo Markham, executive director of Agape Pregnancy Resource Center, in 2019 for the purchase of an ultrasound machine. The council recently made another donation to Agape that was boosted 20% through the new ASAP program.
Grand Knight Harry Larkin (left) and other members of Santa Rosa de Lima Council 12522 in Andice, Texas, present a donation to Jo Markham, executive director of Agape Pregnancy Resource Center, in 2019 for the purchase of an ultrasound machine. The council recently made another donation to Agape that was boosted 20% through the new ASAP program.

Harry Larkin, grand knight of Santa Rosa de Lima Council 12522 in Andice, Texas, did not waste time after learning about the Order’s new ASAP program during an initial webinar conducted by the Supreme Council on July 16.

ASAP (Aid and Support After Pregnancy) formally launched July 15 to bolster local Knights’ assistance for mothers and children in crisis. For every $500 that a council donates to a qualifying pregnancy resource center or maternity home — up to $2,000 in the 2022-23 fraternal year — the Supreme Council will add $100, a 20% increase.

“When the ASAP program was announced, I said, ‘This is fantastic,’” recalled Larkin, a Knight for more than 40 years. He quickly contacted Jo Markham, executive director of Agape Pregnancy Resource Center, to get the tax form he needed to apply for the extra funds. The council has supported Agape for years and had already budgeted a $1,000 donation to the center.

“I said, ‘Jo, send me your W-9,’” Larkin said. “She didn’t even ask me why.”

As a result of that close existing relationship and Larkin’s alacrity, Council 12522 became the very first in the Order to submit an application to ASAP — a distinction in keeping with its history of assistance to pregnancy resource centers and maternity homes.

The council, which is based in a tiny town north of Austin (official population: 25), financially supports six such organizations: TruCare Pregnancy Center, Heart of Texas Pregnancy Resource Center and the John Paul II Life Center, all in Austin; Agape Pregnancy Resource Center in Round Rock; Highland Lakes Pregnancy Resource Center in Marble Hills; and Annunciation Maternity Home in Georgetown.

A few years ago, the council formed a committee to research PRCs and maternity homes in the area. The Knights visited more than a dozen sites, speaking with staff members about their mission and even meeting with clients. Hearing from women served by these centers was transformative.

“When you get a group of men talking about abortion, it doesn’t really sink in until you talk to people affected by it,” Larkin said. “When we started talking to some of these young ladies, it lit a fire under this council.”

In the last four years, the Knights raised about $45,000 for the Order’s Ultrasound Initiative. With matching funds from the Supreme Council, they purchased two ultrasound machines, one for Agape and one for the John Paul II Life Center.

The council raises money with frequent dinners and other events at Santa Rosa de Lima Catholic Church. The parishioners of Santa Rosa are also extremely generous in responding to direct appeals, Larkin noted.

While Council 12522’s application to ASAP is the Order’s first, it will not be the council’s last. And even after meeting the 2022-2023 ASAP cap of $2,000, the Knights in Andice will be looking for ways to increase their donations to PRCs and maternity homes in the coming fraternal year.

“Going forward, these PRCs are going to be more and more important,” Larkin said. “There are going to be literally hundreds of people knocking on their doors, saying ‘I need help.’ They are going to need money.”

Learn more about ASAP at kofc.org/asap.


 

Back to News

 

Recent Articles

  • 4d380b48 547e 4e82 8da8 5602e0658dfa Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother ... Posted May 29, 2023
  • Asap Supreme ASAP Donation Posted Apr 04, 2023
  • 1 4th Degree Fallout Posted Apr 04, 2023
  • Auxbishop Anthony Celino ordained as first auxiliary b... Posted Apr 04, 2023
  • Mc Givney Relic Pilgrimage 1080x1080 r3 Blessed Michael McGivney Relic Pilgrimage – ... Posted Feb 18, 2023

Monthly Archive

  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • February 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • March 2022
Finish Line Texas Knight Read the latest issue Meeting Registration Register for upcoming meetings and events State Per Capita Dues Pay State Per Capita Dues Online Mid-Year Meeting Presentations (English) Donate Now Donate to State Council Charities Faith In Action Resources Pay State Charities Online Pay Council Charities Online

Subscribe to Email Updates

Want to be notified when news, blogs, events, and prayer requests are posted?

Something went wrong

Thanks for subscribing!

Texas Knights of Columbus Logo

TEXAS STATE COUNCIL OFFICE
6633 Highway 290 East, Suite 204
Austin, Texas 78723-1157
Phone (512) 442-1492
Fax (512) 326-1492

TKofC Facebook TKofC Twitter

Navigation

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Star Guide
  • News
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Downloads

Submissions

  • Submit a News Story
  • Submit an Announcement
  • Submit a Calendar Event
  • Submit a Prayer Request
  • Submit a Download

Flickr Photos

©2017-2023 Texas State Council. All content on this website is copyrighted and the sole property of Texas State Council and only can be used by the express permission of the Texas State Council. (512) 442-1492

  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Our History
    • Message from the State Deputy
    • State Officers
    • Why Join the Knights of Columbus?
  • Star Guide
    • Membership
      • Membership Recruitment
      • All Councils Active
      • Membership Retention
      • Ceremonials
      • Online Membership
      • “Father Wants You” Letter
      • Membership Awards
    • Star Councils Awards
      • Awards
      • Star Tracker and Goals
      • Submission of Forms
    • Council Growth
    • Programs
      • Vocations
      • Culture of Life
      • Veterans Affairs
    • Education, Training & Communications
    • Charities
      • Charity Fundraising Team
      • The Charity Pin
      • Bishop Thomas J. Flanagan Fund - Grants for Retired Priests
      • Cardinal Medeiros Fund
      • Special Olympics
      • Emergency Response
      • Educational Grants
      • Wheelchair Program
    • Football Sweepstakes
    • Texas State Council Office
  • News
  • Blog
  • Events