The end-of-year holidays give us all a most welcome opportunity to slow down, catch our breath and think about the many blessings in our lives. At this time of year especially, the great good fortune that we enjoy contrasts sharply with the situations in which many other people around the world, and even right here in South Florida, find themselves. 

One of the most noble of human motivations is the desire to lend a helping hand, and we know we can do that as a University community. We have the opportunity to bring happiness to local children by taking part in the Holiday Giving Tree project, which has become a tradition here at FAU. 

On the Boca campus, you’ll find the Giving Tree in the Weppner Center for Civic Engagement and Service, located above the Breezeway food court in Room 225. Paper ornaments on the tree provide information about gifts that some of the disadvantaged children in our community are hoping to get. You can also pick up an ornament by stopping at a table that the Weppner Center will be staffing in the Breezeway on Tuesday, Dec. 3, and Wednesday, Dec. 4, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Unwrapped gifts, accompanied by their corresponding ornaments, should be brought to the Weppner Center by Friday, Dec. 6. All toys will be turned over to the Spirit of Giving Network, which is trying to make the holiday wishes of some 3,000 local children come true this year.

The Jupiter campus is taking part in a toy drive sponsored by the Northern Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce. New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off in the collection box in the Burrow Student Union until Friday, Dec. 6.

At Harbor Branch, you can pick up a Salvation Army Angel program tag in the Link Port Café.  Unwrapped gifts, with their tags, should be delivered to Cathy Rossmell by Thursday, Dec. 12.

Sincere thanks to everyone who is able to reach out to a child in this way. And here are my best wishes to everyone in the FAU family for a joyous, relaxing and memorable holiday season.

Dennis J. Crudele

Interim President