The Center of Family Love raised a record $860,000

OKARCHE – The Center of Family Love celebrated its 40th anniversary by raising more than $860,000 during the organization’s Gift of Love Virtual Celebration. The event was the eighth in CFL’s history. 

Generous donors from all over Oklahoma and throughout the United States participated at an unprecedented level during the event in support of the residents. Tanner, 25, one of CFL’s newest residents, is a survivor of traumatic brain injury and multiple cancer diagnoses. He served as the event’s first-ever resident host and emcee.
 
The Center of Family Love, which was started by the Knights of Columbus, empowers individuals living with intellectual and physical disabilities to reach for and achieve their dreams while providing innovative lifetime carefree of charge to them and their families in the event they cannot afford it.  

The organization used the occasion to mark its 40th anniversary of serving Oklahomans with intellectual disabilities and held a birthday celebration for all of its residents, inspired by Pauline, CFL’s first resident in 1981, who is now 40 years beyond her predicted life expectancy.

Additional highlights of the Gift of Love Virtual Celebration included a resident production of “Lion Sleeps Tonight” and a resident ballet performance in partnership with the Oklahoma City Ballet. CFL also presented its highest honors on two exceptional community 
leaders, with Richard “RJ” Schulte of Edmond receiving the Harold J. Wittrock Humanitarian Award and Jeanne Sullivan of Tulsa receiving the Carol and Bill Brown Community Ambassador Award. 

Among the key contributors helping CFL to achieve this fundraising record included Kurt and Brooke Bollenbach, Ron and Nancy Carel, Knights of Columbus Charitable Fund, Knights of Columbus Our Lady of the Rosary Council #1287, Ovintiv, Republic National Distributing Company and Rep. Mike Sanders of Oklahoma. 

Photo: (Above) Tanner B., The Center of Family Love’s first-ever resident host and emcee of the annual Gift of Love Gala



Pauline, The Center of Family Love’s first-ever resident in 1981 
Photos provided.