we exist.

Gonzaga University and CCEW are located in Spokane, WA

Thanks to their skills on the court, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are having one of their best years ever. They’re the first seed in the West region, and the greater Inland Northwest community is looking for them to make a deep run in the Big Dance.

But, certain late-night hosts are skeptical. They think that just because they’ve never met anyone who went to Gonzaga, it doesn’t exist. Well, just because Jimmy Kimmel has never visited Catholic Charities, doesn’t mean we think he isn’t real.

So, yes, there is a Gonzaga University. And Catholic Charities can prove it. How?

During Gonzaga’s rout of Pepperdine this month, ESPN color commentator Dick Vitale picked the Zags to bring home their first championship this year. Why such a bold prediction? Vince Grippi, the Spokesman-Review columnist, wrote Vitale was “enamored with GU’s penchant for sharing the ball and how that leads to togetherness throughout the game.”

We know Gonzaga exists because sharing the ball with Catholic Charities is also one of the Zags’ off-court strengths.

Catholic Charities Has Strong Staff and Volunteer Ties to G

• Rob, our CEO, went to GU. He was an RA in DeSmet Hall. Many of our other staff attended, too.

• Our immigration lawyers both attended Gonzaga’s law school.

• And this winter, they literally shared the game day ball with our high school Service Crew and Junior Board.

Gonzaga Supports Catholic Charities’ Children and Family Programs

And our relationship goes even deeper. The Gonzaga Athletic Department has been a powerful and consistent supporter of Catholic Charities’ programs for children and families.

• Every year, student athletes from Gonzaga help give children in our community a safe and fun Halloween at our Trunk-or-Treat event. Kids from St. Margaret’s Shelter, St. Anne’s Children & Family Center, Rising Strong and our neighboring community enjoy trick-or-treating, face painting, games and other fun activities. Last year, the Athletic Department brought more than 800 pounds of candy!

• Gonzaga’s athletes also help organize our Easter Egg Hunt. This year, the campus will host a family-friendly egg hunt. The athletes will help stuff the eggs and hide them on one of the quads. It’s a great way for Gonzaga and Catholic Charities to enjoy our shared Catholic heritage!

• The basketball teams also hold some of our most successful food and hygiene drives of the year. This winter at the Kennel, the Zags collected 1,200 pounds of canned food and 1,800 rolls of toilet paper for our homeless shelters, including St. Margaret’s, our family shelter, and our homeless family resource center. They also collected more than 11,000 diapers — a year’s supply! — for our CAPA program that supports new parents.

We’re grateful for the impact Gonzaga University has had on the Spokane community for more than 125 years and for the impact it continues to make in the lives of the most vulnerable members of our community.

Go Zags!