By Mindy Ragan Wood
Staff Writer
[See slideshow at the end of the story]
CORRECTION: This year’s Gala achieved another record-breaking milestone for the Center of Family Love, which launched its
OKLAHOMA CITY – The sixth annual Gift of Love Family Gala was a success last Saturday night and featured some new heartwarming performances by Center of Family Love residents.
The clinking of glasses and clattering of silverware suddenly stopped as the room grew quiet to watch residents demonstrate their talent with sign language.
They are called “Our Fighting Hearts,” and performed to the song “Don’t Give Up On Me,” by Andy Grammar.
Bidders vied for lavish vacation packages, elite dinner getaways, OKC Thunder courtside tickets, and holy iconography portraits among more than a dozen auction items.
Members of the audience gasped with surprise and delight when a group of Catholic nuns won the $10,000 cash raffle. Sister Patricia Ann Miller said she would share the funds with her fellow nuns from the Convent of St. Anne’s Retirement Center in Oklahoma City.
Last year the gala raised more than $1 million but this year fell short of that goal at $891,000.
It was a night to celebrate more than generous patrons as those who volunteer their time and talent were recognized.
President of the Oklahoma Knights of Columbus Foundation Willard Patocka received the Harold J. Wittrock Humanitarian Award.
“The Lord has given us all gifts,” Dale Harrison said. “I think Willard just learned to use his gift maybe better than most of us. I really feel like he’s got a key to the gate of Heaven. I believe he’s God gift to people with special needs. I really do.”
Founder of the Edmond Knights of Columbus Richard Schulte described Patocka as a man who acts when he sees a need.
“He has a huge heart,” Schulte said. “When he sees a need, it doesn’t matter if it directly affects him or not. He’s going to help.”
Patocka said there is a great need to care for the disabled.
“There is a great need to care for these people because they can’t take care of themselves,” he said. “I feel if we continue to publicize what we have…this could grow. I give this honor to the Knights of Columbus because they are the ones that made me what I am.”
Monsignor Patrick Gaalaas, of St. Bernard of Clairvaux in Tulsa, was honored with the Carol & Bill Brown Outstanding Community Ambassador Award.
CFL Board Member Kathy Sands said Gaalaas is a ecumenical priest.
“He does many things outside the Catholic Church and has a reputation wherever he goes of being very humble, God-serving man. He doesn’t just talk the talk. He walks the walk,” she said.
Gaalaas said he views his work with CFL as being an ambassador for “the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”
“Whatever you do to the least of My brothers and sisters, you do to me,” Gaalaas quoted from Christ’s words. “I’ve just been greatly cheered and warmed by my association with the residents. It’s a pleasure to serve especially folks like our residents at the center. They are extremely appreciative. They’re filled with love. You do them the smallest favor and they’re forever grateful. It helps me get into touch with the simple message of the gospel.”
The night would not have been complete without honoring a resident at CFL. David Inge is a familiar face around Okarche because he attends community functions and enjoys an occasional stroll through town, but it was a hard road that led him to CFL.
His sister Diana Luber said he was diagnosed with a genetic disease and he was later placed in an institution.
“There were no special places for David so they placed him in an institution, but while David was at that institution David was mistreated and abused,” she said. “It wasn’t a good quality of life. He lived there for 20 years.”
When he moved to CFL several years ago life changed for him.
“He realized he was safe,” Luber said. “He started becoming a whole different man, started becoming his own man. He realized what his life could be like now. He had choices that he didn’t have before. The Center has made it a whole new life for us.”
CFL President Debbie Espinosa was moved to tears and said CFL and its supporters are showing the value and dignity of every human being.
“Sometimes people go their entire life wondering if they’ll ever make a difference in this world,” she said. “And it just brings me such joy to know that we have a community to come alongside of us and partner with us to give these individuals a life of dignity, a life of incredible quality. It’s not just for today, not just for one person, a group of people but for generations to come.”
