December 2006

Decking GW’s Halls with Celebration and Charity

By Zak M. Salih

’Tis the season for community and giving at GW with annual traditions—the Holiday Party, Adopt-a-Family, Door Decorating Contest, food and clothing drives, and Toys for Tots—illustrating the University’s commitment to giving and fostering the spirit of the holidays.

On Dec. 19, GW faculty and staff will gather on the third floor of the Marvin Center from 2-4:30 p.m. for the annual Holiday Party to celebrate the holidays in style with food, music, raffle drawings, and fun.

The week before the party, the Holiday Committee will conduct the annual Holiday Door Decorating Contest. Volunteers will judge doors Dec. 12-14.

GW is again coordinating its Adopt-a-Family program, which brightens the holiday season for more than 100 families each year. Last year, 134 families received gifts of clothing, toys, and educational items from over 100 University departments, student organizations, and offices. The program is sponsored by the GW Holiday Committee and the Office of Community Service.

Individuals and departments who sign up with the Office of Community Service to adopt a family will purchase presents for local families in need as designated by organizations such as Academy of Hope, CentroNia, Salvation Army, YMCA, and Transitional Housing. Gifts should be delivered to the Marvin Center Grand Ballroom on Dec. 13 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

In addition to the Adopt-A-Family program, the committee is organizing a clothing and food drive, with hopes of surpassing last year’s contribution of 122 bags of clothing. Food donations will be given to the local charity So Others Might Eat. At the Holiday Party guests also can donate new, unwrapped toys to Toys For Tots and sign blank holiday cards with warm wishes to be distributed to local hospitals.
Faculty and staff also may make a contribution to GW’s Faculty/Staff Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to students from the District of Columbia. Contributions can be made directly by contacting Sharon Block, senior executive
director for advancement, at (202) 994-8714 or at sblock@gwu.edu. Gifts also can be made through the United Way Campaign by designating “GW.” To date, the scholarship fund totals more than $215,000.

Throughout the month of December, the GW Bookstore will collect children’s books in a drive supporting the Heart of America Foundation, which promotes childhood literacy and distributes books to children across the county. The bookstore will have a large variety of children’s books available for sale at a 20 percent discount, and encourages customers to purchase and donate these books to under-resourced school libraries, classrooms, and directly into the hands of underprivileged children in our area.

For more information on GW’s holiday efforts, contact the Office of University Events at (202) 994-7129.

Send feedback to: bygeorge@gwu.edu