The Spirit of Giving is Strong at CWU

December 4, 2007

ELLENSBURG, Wash.--The spirit of the season is in the air on Central Washington University's campus as the university's annual Holiday Gift Project wraps up another successful year. More than 288 children from Ellensburg and throughout the valley will reap the benefits of the giving atmosphere on campus.

Coordinated by the president's office, the Holiday Gift Project invites CWU administrators, faculty, staff, students, and community members to buy gifts for local children in need. Local agencies provided Central with a list of children and items those children would like to receive.

Wrapped gifts were delivered to the president's office throughout the day Monday, Dec. 3, 2007. This year's gifts will be delivered to area youngsters 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 CWU's Early Childhood Learning Center in Brooklane Village, and Rainbow Center in Michaelson Hall.

The spirit of giving has even touched the Central Washington University men's basketball team. Student-athletes, coaches and department personnel teamed up to sponsor about 30 children on the list.

"This is a great opportunity for the men's basketball program and the CWU athletic department to come together and help in Kittitas County," CWU men's basketball coach Greg Sparling said.

Many departments and individuals across campus took part in this year's gift giving program. For more information about Central's Holiday Gift Project, contact Kristy Magdlin in the president's office at 509-963-2111 or at magdlink@cwu.edu.

Contact: Kristy Magdlin, project coordinator, 509-963-2111, magdlink@cwu.edu
Teri Olin, CWU Public Relations & Marketing, 509-963-1416, olint@cwu.edu

Central Washington University is a master's degree-granting institution with approximately 10,000 students and 1,500 faculty and staff. More than 160 undergraduate and master's degrees are offered. Founded in 1891, the Ellensburg campus is located in the heart of Washington State, nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River. Since 1975, CWU has served the needs of place bound students at six university centers throughout the state. CWU is an AA/EEO Title IX Institution.