On May 4, 2018, the 33rd consecutive Faley Special Games will be held at Cal State Fullerton. It will also mark Servite High School’s 11th consecutive year as an official “offsite” school day to serve at this very unique and beautiful ministry. Originally conceived by Dan Faley ’82 and two classmates as part of a public relations class project while attending CSUF, the games have grown into Orange County’s largest non-competitive sporting event for athletes with developmental disabilities. Re-named the Kathleen E. Faley Memorial Games in 1987 after the sudden death of Dan’s sister Kathleen, the entire Faley family (including Dans fellow alumni brothers Mike ’75, Tim ’80, Terry ’81 and James ’85) enlisted friends, neighbors and volunteers to expand the games.
In the early years of the Special Games, Servite’s role and presence was very informal, but in the summer of 2006 at a Servite Golf Tournament, family patriarch Jack Faley shared his vision with Servite staff to increase the school’s participation. (After Jack’s passing in 2015, his name was added to the games alongside his daughters.) Since 2006, the men of Servite have assisted in numerous ways to make sure the Games are successful. Each year, a large portion of the student body reports directly to the CSUF campus to participate in a day of service. Running the various athletic activities, preparing thousands of lunches for the athletes and volunteers, working the water stations and trash detail, and most importantly shadowing the special athletes are all a part of our work on this amazing day. It is truly a day where we are able to “Be Christ” and “See Christ” in everyone who participates.
