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CANYON CORRIDOR CONNECTION 2016
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Communi t y Highl ights
Canyon Cares Ninos Seguros
12th Annual Back-to-School Backpack Event
continues to strengthen local community ties
Grand Canyon University continued its strong
community outreach efforts by supporting the
Canyon Cares/Arvizu Ninos Seguros Back to
School Health & Safety Fair held on Sat, Aug 23..
More than 5,500 Canyon Corridor community
youth and their families were on campus
Saturday for the 12th annual event in Antelope
Gym. The event prepared children to return
to school by providing free backpacks, school
supplies and health screenings. Those who
completed the health screenings were eligible
to win prizes, which included 10 bikes, five
laptops and five iPads from local vendors. The
event also included karate demonstrations and
safety presentations, and families were able to
interact with Phoenix City Councilman Daniel
Valenzuela.
The 12th Annual Ninos Seguros Health & Safety
Fair included GCU nursing students volunteered
to provide prize giveaways, health screenings
and family entertainment.
Faith Weese, GCU’s chief University relations
officer who has helped coordinate the Ninos
Seguros events through the past 12 years, said
she looks forward to seeing thousands of Canyon
Corridor youth attend each year with such
excitement and anticipation!
“This is an amazing event and the only one of
its kind in west Phoenix,” Weese said. “It is the
event of the year for our Canyon Corridor youth
and families as they prepare for the first day of
school once again. It was an exciting day – it
always is when you see our neighborhood youth
having so much fun getting ready for school!
As they walk in the door with their friends and
families their eyes light up and the joy on their
face as they pick up all the school supplies they
can carry - is priceless.”
GCU had more than 100 volunteers on campus,
among them 40 students from the College
of Nursing and Health Care Professions who
provided thousands of free screenings, including
eye exams and basic checkups.
Connie Colbert, director of the Canyon Health
and Wellness Center, volunteered at the event
for the first time and supervised the nurse
volunteers. It was an educational opportunity
for nursing students to apply lessons from GCU
courses and for community members to become
more aware of their health needs and receive
training on basic self-care, she said.
“This event is great for our students and the
community. Our students were able to receive
practical application of what they are being
taught in class, and people in the community
had the opportunity to have their vision tested
or blood pressure checked and learn how to stay
healthy,” she said.
Many students who assisted in the event said
they enjoyed the event and plan to volunteer
again after graduation.
The 12th Annual Ninos Seguros Health & Safety Fair included prize giveaways,
health screenings and family entertainment.
GCU nursing students volunteered to provide thousands of health screenings.