Honoring the origins of WesternU’s Santa’s Workshop: Celebrating 35 years of a tradition rooted in compassion
Story by Ebony Miles, Director of Alumni & Family Engagement
The story behind one of WesternU’s most cherished traditions came back to life when Dr. Craig Durck, DO ’94, joined us as a volunteer at the Alumni Mixer on Nov. 5, 2025. While reconnecting with students and staff, he was asked about his time at WesternU—and that simple conversation uncovered the remarkable origins of Santa’s Workshop. Hearing Dr. Durck’s memories and witnessing his pride in seeing the tradition thrive more than 30 years later reminded us just how deeply alumni shape and sustain the spirit of WesternU.
WesternU’s beloved Santa’s Workshop began not as an official program, but as a heartfelt act of kindness sparked by Dr. Durck and his classmates more than three decades ago. During their first year of medical school, the group decided to create a moment of joy for local children, and an escape from the stress of coursework. “We were just trying to do something nice for the kids,” Dr. Durck recalled.
What followed was an unforgettable community effort: two faculty members dressed as Mr. and Mrs. Claus, classmates secured toy donations from Mattel and even the Los Angeles Rams quarterback at the time, Jim Everett, and a student’s father helped make the connection. A visual aids team member set up a video feed that made it look like Santa and Mrs. Claus were flying toward campus in their sleigh. The students borrowed a convertible for Santa’s grand entrance. Families were treated to lunch, and every child received a gift personally handed to them by Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
Since that first magical gathering in 1990, Santa’s Workshop has grown into an annual tradition hosted by the WesternU Student Government Association (SGA). Today, University Student Affairs (USA), SGA, and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) work together to provide 250+ personalized gifts to children, teens, and now young adults served by DCFS.
Over the years, the program has expanded beyond its original focus on children ages 0–14. During the pandemic, WesternU extended support to include older teens, and beginning last year, DCFS identified young adults ages 17–21 who are still in the foster care system and receiving AB12 services. Many of these young adults—often survivors of trauma with limited support systems—benefit deeply from the compassion demonstrated by the WesternU community.
Despite global instability, economic hardship, and rising needs among vulnerable youth, the mission of Santa’s Workshop remains unchanged: to embody the University’s values of compassion, humanism, and caring by bringing joy to families who need it most. What began as a simple act of student generosity in 1990 has grown into a cherished campus tradition—one that continues to embody the heart of WesternU.
