$10,000 donation to provide direct support to victims in communities ravaged by disasters

Contact: Bob Romantic, Grand Canyon University, 602-639-7611, bob.romantic@gcu.edu

PHOENIX, Dec. 5, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- Grand Canyon University Foundation is lending a helping hand to victims of catastrophic tornadoes in the Midwest and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines through a $10,000 donation to Samaritan's Purse, a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization that provides spiritual and physical aid to people who are suffering throughout the world.

"Our hearts go out to the people who have withstood the tornadoes that ravaged the Midwest and the crisis in the Philippines," said Brian Mueller, Grand Canyon University's president and CEO. "We are eager to provide some measure of hope and healing to the victims in their time of great need." 

In the aftermath of the Philippines disaster, Mueller said the GCU Foundation was impressed with the swift action of Samaritan's Purse, which deployed disaster response specialists immediately after the storm. The organization also provided community water filters, protective tarps, blankets, hygiene kits and emergency family food packets to storm victims. 

"This is an organization that shares our philosophy of giving back," he said.

GCU has a legacy of serving others and guiding its students to become socially responsible servant leaders by connecting with their community. Through its foundation, the university contributes funds to a host of human service organizations and provides support to those affected by natural disasters in communities across the country and throughout the world. In addition, dozens of GCU students, faculty and staff volunteer throughout the year.

Grand Canyon University Foundation is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) public charity whose mission is to embrace the generosity of the Christian spirit by making donations in the communities in which the students, faculty/staff and friends of Grand Canyon University live, work and serve. For more information about GCU, visit www.gcu.edu.