A $1 million gift from the Newfield Foundation will provide the seed money for a new building on the Center of Family Love campus, CEO Debbie Espinosa said.

At a meeting next month, the center’s board of directors is slated to develop a timeline for the design, fundraising and construction of the Newfield Community and Education Center, a building intended to focus on educational training opportunities for the organization’s current residents as well as areas where parents and special education teachers can network with one another.

The former Houston-based New-field Exploration Co., which was recently purchased by Canada-based Encana, has been a financial supporter of CFL since it began intensive exploration and development work in the STACK several years ago.

But this gift is by far the largest the energy company’s philanthropic foundation has bestowed on the center, which has been providing lifetime care for adults with a range of complex intellectual and physical difficulties for nearly 40 years.

“This is amazing,” Espinosa said of the gift. “It’s enough to get us started and really motivated and excited about this project and what it can be.”

The board of directors had already approved the education building project, but the next step will be to bring in a design team and involve staff members in fleshing out the concept, she said.

Once the project’s scope and budget are determined, additional fundraising will begin.

“The Newfield Foundation is the cornerstone for this incredibly impactful community investment program,” Espinosa said.

“With this legacy gift, Newfield has established a foundation for this project that will reach generations of individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families.

“We are deeply grateful for their commitment to serve our community.”

Some of the programs planned for the Newfield Community and Education Center include adult day programs, horticulture therapy, resident and employee health and wellness programs and rehabilitation therapy sessions.

“These programs offer motivating activities to help residents learn to be active participants and responsible learners while striving for independence,” Espinosa said.

Some of the classes expected to be offered will include pottery, sign language, exercise, drama, dance and culinary experiences.

According to Espinosa, securing the million-dollar grant “kicked off a significant new initiative and a bold commitment to impact our broader community.”

Having procured the grant, the Center of Family Love will now launch its capital campaign vision.

“All campaign components support a common vision to enrich the lives of individuals with special needs by helping them gain independence and a life filled with discovery and new experiences,”she said.

Additional goals to expand the ministry with funding through the capital campaign vision in the coming years include multi-phase plans for two new intermediate care residential homes, an activity and performing arts center, a new free-standing, handicap-accessible Blessed Stanley Rother Chapel, expansion of resident businesses, new work and off campus day programs, infrastructure improvements and an increased focus on the endowment fund.

“God has always provided for our residents’ needs and I have faith that He will continue to do so as we seek to expand and impact even more lives for Him,” Espinosa said.

“I can’t tell you how thankful I am that we have companies who understand our mission and get behind us because we couldn’t do it without them.

Announcement of the Newfield gift followed on the heels of the second annual CFL Backyard Block Party, hosted by the CFL Teen Board.

The block party is part of the center’s Love Challenge, an annual appeal challenging churches and groups across Oklahoma to adopt a resident and raise money on behalf of their adopted friend.

The teen board raised nearly $10,000 on behalf of their adopted resident and the challenge program has raised $240,789 total since its inception two years ago, Nellie Sanders, CFL’s chief philanthropy officer, said.