CWU GIVES GIFTS AGAIN FOR KITTITAS COUNTY KIDS

December 11, 2006

ELLENSBURG Wash.-- This year, more than 280 deserving Kittitas County kids will receive gifts through the fifth annual Central Washington University holiday giving program, a program which CWU President Jerilyn S. McIntyre describes as "a wonderful opportunity for the university community to share with children from throughout our county."

The gifts, purchased and wrapped by sponsoring CWU employees, were collected in the Office of the President and are now being distributed through Head Start/ECEAP (Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program) the state Department of Social and Health Services' Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and, for the first time this year, CWU's Early Childhood Learning Center, in Brooklane Village, and Rainbow Center, in Michaelsen Hall, on the Ellensburg campus.

"This means we can take care of the children in the campus community that might not have contacts in the community," says Janie Charlton, director of both university centers. "Children who might not otherwise have gifts under the tree, now will."

A total of 78 children, 2 to 8 year olds, in the Early Childhood Learning Center are receiving gifts, while 29 others, 1 month to 2-and-a-half year olds, will get presents through the Rainbow Center.

Andy Januszkiewicz, from Kittitas County Head Start/ECEAP, says parents will be able to pick up their CWU-donated gifts on Monday, Dec. 18, beginning at 4 p.m., at Head Start's new location at the old Kittitas High School. Light refreshments will be served to get family and friends in the holiday spirit, he adds.

In all, Head Start/ECEAP will receive CWU gifts for 135 children enrolled in programs in both Ellensburg and Roslyn.

"This gift-giving program by CWU helps brings joy and happiness to families that often have extremely limited financial resources," Januszkiewicz says. "It is a great way for families to supplement their holiday."

In addition, 45 children from 29 area families will receive gifts from CWU delivered to them through DCFS.

"Without community support it would not be possible to ensure that all children receive gifts at this time of year," says Lynnette Hynden, DCFS Region 2 area administrator. "Both my staff and I would like to extend a very special thank you to our community partners that have been so instrumental in making the holiday season bright for children that our agency serves."

The department assists children that have been removed from their homes and placed with substitute caregivers, such as relatives or foster care, and provides necessary and preventative services to families in supporting parenting in their homes.

Contact: Robert Lowery (509-963-1487/fax 509-963-2301/e-mail: loweryr@cwu.edu)