The Ripple Effect
At least 1 out of every 6 Newberg residents is a George Fox student, employee, donor, parent, alumnus or spouse.
Visit a local business and it’s quite possible a George Fox logo can be found on a car in the parking lot or on clothing worn by a customer. But even when invisible, George Fox is contributing to the community and economy. The university’s presence ripples through the community.
Newberg wouldn’t be Newberg without George Fox, and George Fox wouldn’t be George Fox without Newberg. Together, each makes the other stronger.
“I’ve lived in two college towns and people were always happy to see the students go home in the summer. Not here. George Fox students are great kids.”
“We do a lot of business with the school and their students. We even have parents of students coming in. We had one dad from Atlanta who came in to research us to make sure he could trust us with his little girl’s automotive needs. She’s about to go to an internship in Boston and he wishes we could follow her to her next adventure.”
Larry Birtcher, Store Manager
Newberg Tire Factory / Point S
Brittani Johnson, Co-owner
Critter Cabana
“Before we started Critter Cabana, my husband and I were both pet hobbyists. As students at George Fox, we snuck a bunch of animals into campus housing. We decided to open our first store in Newberg because we really liked the community and especially this building. We now have about 30 employees in two stores.”
Dennis Lewis, President
Lewis Audio Video
“We’ve done work with George Fox for about 15 years. We provide a good percentage of their campus video displays, and we installed the projection systems in George Fox’s Bauman Auditorium. It was one of two major projects that shored up our business during the recession of 2008.”
What's a College Worth to a Town?
In dollars and cents, it’s worth millions to Newberg. A recent economic impact study showed George Fox University’s students, visitors and employees annually contribute more than $145 million to the surrounding community. That big of a number is hard to comprehend without considering the many almost-hidden ways George Fox brings value to the city.
Student money from outside the community flows into Newberg even before classes start. More than 5,500 prospective students, family and friends annually come to Newberg to tour campus. Of those, more than 1,000 prospective undergraduate students annually spend the night on campus in Newberg. Two out of every three prospective students come from beyond 50 miles from campus, meaning many family and friends book a hotel room and eat meals nearby.
George Fox enrolled 4,140 students this past fall at four sites in Oregon. More than 2,700 are taking classes in Newberg. Their year-after-year effect on the local economy adds up. Undergraduate students annually spend nearly $5,200 each on retail, food, recreation, real estate and other services.
Students are not the only ones supporting Newberg businesses. Alumni, parents and other family and friends often show up multiple times a year, making visits for Family Weekend, Homecoming, extracurricular events and eventually for graduation. They come for sporting events, as do thousands of opposing fans and family members. George Fox home football games averaged 2,400 fans last fall. Restaurants, hotels and retailers all benefit from the traffic.
George Fox enrolled 4,084 students in the fall of 2023. More than 2,000 are taking classes in Newberg. Their year-after-year effect on the local economy adds up. Direct spending by George Fox students totals more than $47 million a year.
Students are not the only ones supporting Newberg businesses. Alumni, parents and other family and friends often show up multiple times a year, making visits for Family Weekend, Homecoming, extracurricular events and eventually for graduation. They come for sporting events, as do thousands of opposing fans and family members. At least 300 of the events scheduled each year are open to the public. Restaurants, hotels and retailers all benefit from the traffic. More than 79,000 guests attend events on campus annually. Nearly 27,000 of these guests are on campus for events unrelated to the university.
After graduation, it’s not uncommon for out-of-town students to settle down in town. More than 1,496 of George Fox’s 34,301 alumni live in Newberg’s 97132 ZIP code. Friendsview Retirement Community has found that having George Fox next door is a big selling point. Friendsview residents have multiple opportunities throughout the year to attend free events at the university.
Even in the summer, the Newberg campus remains a magnet for visitors. More than 30,000 summer guests come to campus for conferences, camps and other events. In the summer of 2023, 3,590 guests stayed overnight.
George Fox is the second-largest employer in Yamhill County, employing more than 1,000 people. George Fox employees receive more than $54 million in taxable salaries and benefits. More than 335 current George Fox employees live in Newberg, and many are homeowners who pay property taxes to support city services.
In dollars and cents, it’s worth millions to Newberg. A recent economic impact study showed George Fox University’s students, visitors and employees annually contribute more than $145 million to the surrounding community. That big of a number is hard to comprehend without considering the many almost-hidden ways George Fox brings value to the city.
Student money from outside the community flows into Newberg even before classes start. More than 5,500 prospective students, family and friends annually come to Newberg to tour campus. Of those, more than 1,000 prospective undergraduate students annually spend the night on campus in Newberg. Two out of every three prospective students come from beyond 50 miles from campus, meaning many family and friends book a hotel room and eat meals nearby.
George Fox enrolled 4,140 students this past fall at four sites in Oregon. More than 2,700 are taking classes in Newberg. Their year-after-year effect on the local economy adds up. Undergraduate students annually spend nearly $5,200 each on retail, food, recreation, real estate and other services.
Students are not the only ones supporting Newberg businesses. Alumni, parents and other family and friends often show up multiple times a year, making visits for Family Weekend, Homecoming, extracurricular events and eventually for graduation. They come for sporting events, as do thousands of opposing fans and family members. George Fox home football games averaged 2,400 fans last fall. Restaurants, hotels and retailers all benefit from the traffic.
George Fox enrolled 4,084 students in the fall of 2023. More than 2,000 are taking classes in Newberg. Their year-after-year effect on the local economy adds up. Direct spending by George Fox students totals more than $47 million a year.
Students are not the only ones supporting Newberg businesses. Alumni, parents and other family and friends often show up multiple times a year, making visits for Family Weekend, Homecoming, extracurricular events and eventually for graduation. They come for sporting events, as do thousands of opposing fans and family members. At least 300 of the events scheduled each year are open to the public. Restaurants, hotels and retailers all benefit from the traffic. More than 79,000 guests attend events on campus annually. Nearly 27,000 of these guests are on campus for events unrelated to the university.
After graduation, it’s not uncommon for out-of-town students to settle down in town. More than 1,496 of George Fox’s 34,301 alumni live in Newberg’s 97132 ZIP code. Friendsview Retirement Community has found that having George Fox next door is a big selling point. Friendsview residents have multiple opportunities throughout the year to attend free events at the university.
Even in the summer, the Newberg campus remains a magnet for visitors. More than 30,000 summer guests come to campus for conferences, camps and other events. In the summer of 2023, 3,590 guests stayed overnight.
George Fox is the second-largest employer in Yamhill County, employing more than 1,000 people. George Fox employees receive more than $54 million in taxable salaries and benefits. More than 335 current George Fox employees live in Newberg, and many are homeowners who pay property taxes to support city services.
Frank Engle, director of marketing
Friendsview Retirement Community
“Having George Fox in Newberg is a selling point for people considering joining our community. They can walk on the George Fox track, attend sports and musical events or even take classes. A university in town is a big draw that’s contributed to our growth. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship.”
Tiffany Olea, Owner
Coffee Cat Coffeehouse
“I love the support from students and making those relationships with them as they come in. A lot of times they are here for the next four years so it’s fun to watch them grow.”
Jeff Lane, President
Newberg Steel & Fabrication
“George Fox has been a good customer for Newberg Steel. We’ve done their football scoreboard, the supports for their bleachers, their baseball stadium, a remodel of a dorm and several other projects with their engineering, theatre and maintenance departments.”
Economic Impact on the Local Community (2018-19)
Total Economic Impact:
$194,975,919
Direct Spending:
$145,623,960
Induced Spending:
$49,351,960
Source: Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges & Universities
George Fox has had a hugely positive influence in my life. My wife and I both attended there, and we made Newberg our home after graduation. After working in a corporate setting for five years, I was really happy to open my practice in downtown Newberg where we can be a part of this great community.”
Dr. Michael Owen
Owen Eye Care
Mark and Betty Vergets, Owners
Newberg Ace Hardware
“We’ve had a great relationship with George Fox since we got here in the 1960s. The university carpenters, plumbers and grounds crew are all regular customers. It’s nice to have a university in Newberg that understands the importance of supporting local businesses and that we truly can call a neighbor.”
Rob Molzahn, Principal Broker
Berkshire Hathaway
“George Fox certainly has a positive impact on property values in Newberg. We work with incoming faculty and students looking for homes and quite a few current employees looking to invest in rental properties. The university is important to my business, and I appreciate that their employees are investing in Newberg.”
Michael Wagy, General Manager
Sales, CalPortland
“When CalPortland opened its Newberg plant we put a George Fox logo on one of our concrete mixer trucks to celebrate being part of the community. They’ve been a good customer for us. We provided concrete and aggregates for George Fox’s new dining hall, football field scoreboard and new baseball field.”
George Fox-Related Visits to Newberg
Source: DatafyTop States Visitors Travel From
Length of Stay
Demographics
Age
Income
Household Size
Kelly Pratt, Owner
Sprinkles of Joy
“We love having George Fox students and faculty come in to enjoy our treats, and then also stay here and have meetings or do homework. We feel so supported by George Fox with big events. It’s so nice to be able to support them and they support us.”
Cheryl Fletcher, Owner
Dormers Embroidery & Promotional
“We have done a lot of awards for all the different departments and we have embroidered a lot of clothing for faculty. We have also seen a huge interest in the football program from alumni and parents who get a lot of gear. It’s a positive for everyone all the way around.”
Giving Back to Newberg
George Fox students and employees volunteer more than 250,000 hours per year in the community.
Volunteer Internships
Numerous students - many from the psychology, sociology or social work departments - have volunteer internships in local agencies and nonprofit organizations.
America Reads/America Counts
Using student-employee funds, George Fox students work with the America Reads and America Counts programs at Newberg public schools.
Mr. Bruin Pageant
George Fox students annually hold a male "beauty" pageant to raise money for a local charity. Pageants have raised about $5,000 each year.
Edwards Elementary After-School Program
Students in the university's elementary education major teach after-school classes at Edwards Elementary School in Newberg. The George Fox students create curriculum and teaching reading and language arts to students.
SMART (Start Making a Reader Today) Program
Working through the SMART program George Fox language students visit local elementary schools and assist children by reading to them in Spanish or English on a weekly basis.
Bruin Sports Day
Each August, the university invites more than 200 second- through eighth-grade boys and girls to campus to participate in free sports clinics facilitated by members of its athletic teams and coaching staff. Instruction is offered in a variety of sports, including football, soccer, baseball, golf and tennis.
Health and Wellness Week
The university’s physical therapy program annually offers a week of free services to the community, including clinics and classes on nutrition, back care, coping skills, and exercise. More than 200 local citizens participated in 2017. A Pool-a-Palooza is held to provide a fun safe time for kids with special needs to swim and play at the aquatic center.
Physical Therapy Community Clinic
This clinic is staffed with clinicians trained to address all orthopedic conditions, from over-use wear and tear to after-surgery cases. The staff is also available to provide therapy for children, rehabilitation for those who have experienced a cardiac event or who have had cardiac-related surgery, and educational sessions on nutrition, exercise, pain and stress management, and smoking cessation.
Mental Health Consultation
Staff and graduate students in the Doctor of Clinical Psychology program provide 24-hour coverage, seven days per week in the emergency department at Providence Newberg Hospital. They provide consultations on all patients with mental health concerns. In a recent calendar year, 59 PsyD students provided a total of 50,000 hours of free services to children and adults in 20 clinic, health and community settings.
Red Cross Blood Drives
George Fox University has hosted more than 70 Red Cross blood drives. Faculty, staff and students have donated more than 1,500 gallons of blood, averaging more than 70 gallons per year since 2000.
Discounted Tuition for Senior Citizens
George Fox allows senior citizens over 62 years of age to take many traditional undergraduate classes – as space allows - at a significant discount.
School Visits
George Fox science professors travel to about 35 elementary, middle, and high schools a year to judge science fairs, make presentations, and assist in outdoor schools.
Chehalem Symphony
The orchestra, also known as the George Fox Orchestra, is open to community musicians if they are at an appropriate performance level. George Fox pays for all the materials/resources and hosts the orchestra on campus.
Newberg Community Band
George Fox hosts this band on campus weely and on stage in Bauman Auditorium three times a year. The university allows them to use its percussion instruments when needed.
Masterworks Chorus
Alumni, staff, and community members are able to participate in this vocal group along with students. As many as 20-40 community members sing as part of this group each year.
Interschool Equipment Loan Program
George Fox University loans science equipment to public and private school teachers, home-school parents, and members of the greater George Fox University community.
Star Lab
The Star Lab is a portable planetarium available to school groups.