Gilmour Council’s Ultrasound Project

Gilmour Council 310 Trust and KofC Supreme Share $28,750 Cost

In the fall of 2023, Gilmour’s Dr John Vargo took the reins of the council’s Ultrasound Project, part of the KofC’s initiative to supply ultrasound machines to Catholic women’s clinics and pregnancy centers. His task was four-fold: (1) Find machines of varying configurations and capabilities inside the GC310 Trust’s budget, (2) Determine the scope of work, certification, and eligibility under the KofC Supreme guidelines, (3) Adapt whatever KofC experience might be already out there, and (4) Drive the project to completion.

Able to cut through the medical jargon and quickly learning that Westlake’s St Ladislas Council #16373 had an existing ultrasound program, John established a working relationship with St Lad’s Budd Tetzlaff, and the project took off. St Lad’s program raises money from private donors and other councils and had purchased 4 machines. And although this 5th machine would be funded entirely by Gilmour, St Lad’s help was instrumental in selecting Veranova Health as the recipient clinic, in dealing with the manufacturer and distributor, and in obtaining approval from the diocese and KofC Supreme. Moneys from the GC310 Trust were made available in December, and the machine was delivered in March. Bishop Malesic was on-hand April 17th to bless the machine and deliver some inspiring remarks on the value of life and the impact that seeing the baby’s image has on the mother.

Eight Gilmour knights, six St Ladislas knights, guests, and Veranova Health staff joined the bishop for the dedication in Middleburg Heights.