Tulsa CARES dream becomes a reality

(Tulsa, OK) A groundbreaking ceremony for Tulsa CARES (Center for AIDS Resources, Education and Support) clients, staff, board and donors will take place September 14. The group and their guests will celebrate the groundbreaking of their new center, The Charles Faudree Center, at 10am on Monday, Sept. 14.

The Center will be built at the site of the former Gracepoint Church at 3712 E. 11th St.

Tulsa CARES’ new home is named in honor of the agency’s long-time board member and internationally recognized interior designer, Charles Faudree. The new 16,000-square-foot, two-story building, will replace the current facility to better serve more than 500 people living with HIV/AIDS in northeastern Oklahoma. The Charles Faudree Center will double Tulsa CARES’ capacity to serve from 500 to 1,000 clients.

Tulsa CARES provides case management, nutrition assistance, mental health therapy, prescription assistance, housing assistance, and other services to more than 500 clients. In addition, there are 500 to 600 more HIV-positive individuals in northeastern Oklahoma who are also food insecure, unstably housed or suffering from emotional or mental health issues.

With a total project goal of $3 million, and even with Tulsa CARES already at 97 percent of its goal, there is still work to be done.  

“We’re beginning construction, and the project is slated to take six months to complete,” says Tulsa CARES’ Executive Director, R. Shannon Hall. “The Charles Faudree Center has long been a dream of the Tulsa CARES family and marks a huge turning point in our 25-year history. We will be able to provide more and better services, collaborate with other agencies, provide social venues for our clients and the community and serve as a cornerstone development on 11th Street,” Hall continues.

The campaign has received the support of major donors within northeastern Oklahoma, including: The George Kaiser Family Foundation, The Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation, Maxine and Jack Zarrow Family Foundation, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, Coretz Family Foundation, Morningcrest Healthcare Foundation, The J. E. and L. E. Mabee Foundation, Inc. and Sanford P. and Irene F. Burnstein Foundation. Additional gifts have been pledged by Helmerich Foundation, Ruth K. Nelson Revocable Trust, Julie and John Nickel, Charles Faudree and Bill Carpenter, Patricia G. Chernicky and Robert and Jill Thomas.

“Our donors have shown great faith in us, our clients have stood with us and our staff has worked hard to bring this to fruition. It’s a great day for Tulsa CARES,” Hall says.

For more information on the capital campaign, Tulsa CARES and The Charles Faudree Center, please call (918) 834-4194 or visit www.tulsacares.org.

Founded in 1991, Tulsa CARES, a Tulsa Area United Way Partner Agency, delivers services to low-income people living with HIV/AIDS. Tulsa CARES’ mission is “Delivering social services to people affected by HIV/AIDS.”

The Gayly – September 10, 2015 @ 8:20am.