On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, a major earthquake struck 10 miles Southwest of Port-au-Prince. The people of Haiti have been in Grand Canyon University’s prayers and on our hearts since news of the devastating earthquake broke.

We know that the families of several GCU members have been personally affected, including an employee and a student. One of our GCU enrollment managers and her husband have a direct relationship with Father Rick Frechette, on-site National Director in Haiti for Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos (Friends of the Orphans), who runs an orphanage, educational/vocational programs, and the only free children’s hospital in Haiti.

We have been in direct contact with Father Rick by satellite telephone. One way we can most efficiently help these victims immediately and in the longer term is through monetary donations. Fr. Rick assures us that 100 percent of the donations will go directly to the disaster victims served by his ministry.

Senior management has announced that GCU will match all monies you donate dollar for dollar up to a total of $25,000.

It is hoped that our community of students, employees and alumni will generously support this much-needed outreach effort. All donations are tax-deductible and will be very much appreciated by the orphans and patients at the children’s hospital. Thank you in advance for your support. To make a donation go to: http://www.friendsoftheorphans.org/gcu