GCU’s first Canyon Cares Christmas outreach event Sunday, Dec. 13 brightened the holidays for more than 550 neighborhood children and their families with dinner, Christmas presents and holiday fun. Thanks to the generosity of GCU employees and students, McKinley Hall became Santa’s workshop, with more than 330 gifts for parents to choose from, ensuring that each of their children had a special gift on Christmas morning. While the parents chose and wrapped gifts with the help of employee volunteers, GCU students entertained the children with face painting, ornament making and cookie decorating. One of the highlights of the event was sledding on the amphitheatre hill south of the Student Union, complete with five tons of real snow!
“We were blessed to have the opportunity to reach out to our neighborhood families with this special holiday gift,” said University Pastor Mik Milem. “Many thanks to the nearly 200 GCU employees and students who volunteered their Sunday afternoon to make the event a great success, including helping families find and wrap presents for their children, serving dinner, and providing the children with an afternoon filled with laughter and smiles.”
GCU's annual Christmas Music Festival in Ethington Theatre followed the outreach event, with performances by the Canyon Chorale, the Canyon Singers, and singers from Bourgade Catholic High School who performed to a packed house!
For more photos, go to the GCULife Facebook album.
