Local Outreach

A GCU holiday tradition became more expansive than ever Sunday afternoon with the move of Canyon Cares Christmas to the Quad and Arena. The University’s three campuses collected toys for 750 underprivileged children, and a team of 150 enthusiastic, green-shirted volunteers — students, faculty and staff — helped dispense them to neighborhood families. “This is one of those great opportunities we have to express our love and support for our community,” said Dean of Students Pastor Tim Griffin as he surveyed the hustle and bustle outside the Arena. “It’s a wonderful time of year to do that, a chance to capture the moment. This is Grand Canyon at its best.”

The Good Neighbor Club, along with GCU’s refugee outreach workers, hosted a Christmas party on Wednesday night for the University’s neighbors at Serrano Village. Students provided an apartment full of party food and hit the pavement to sing Christmas carols to residents. The Good Neighbor Club, formed in the fall of 2010, has become a fixture at Serrano Village, where the residents include more than 550 refugees from at least a dozen countries, including Iraq, Tanzania, Kenya and Bhutan. The complex is about a half-mile east of campus on Camelback Road.

GCU was invaded by pirates, monsters and a few cute little bugs Thursday evening at the annual Fall Festival on the Mariposa Lawn. Children and their parents from all over the community came to campus to enjoy some safe, Halloween-style fun, with many dressing up in costume. Jennifer Girl of Event Services, who planned and organized much of the festival, said the event was a huge success, bigger and better than ever. Over the course of three hours, an estimated 6,000 visitors came to campus.