There are other people in this world who need things way more than I do. There’s no reason in the world for us not to help.
The Benedict Center, located on the northeast side of Milwaukee, has been helping women impacted by the criminal justice system for more than 30 years.
Milwaukee Area Technical College employee Sara Cappaert had to admit that she had never heard of the nonprofit until Monday, October 12, when nearly 50 community organizations gathered at the Downtown Milwaukee Campus to kick off MATC Cares, the college’s annual United Way employee giving campaign.
For Cappaert, the college’s manager of scholarship programs, the center’s mission — providing counseling, reentry support, neighborhood drop-in centers and street outreach — resonated with her so much that she specifically donated to the center this year.
“They have such a breadth of services that can really help people,” Cappaert said. “I know that many of our students are affected by the criminal justice system, so helping the center could help our students.”
The giving campaign, which runs from Monday until November 13, benefits hundreds of nonprofit organizations through the United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, the MATC Foundation Inc. and Milwaukee PBS.
Monday’s first-ever Community Impact Fair was a great opportunity for employees to see these groups and learn about them first hand, said Michael Rogers, vice president of the Student Engagement and Community Impact division.
“Looking at a list isn’t the same as being able to talk to someone about the impact these groups are making,” Rogers said.
The agencies address hunger relief, homelessness, children’s care, health disparities and literacy each and every day, said Casey Aicher, account manager of United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County.
“There is never a more important time to give back to the community than right now,” Aicher said.
In 2025, nearly 193,000 people were helped by United Way-funded programs and partnerships across the MATC community, said Dr. Anthony Cruz, MATC’s president.
“That’s a big, big number and a very powerful reminder of how much we can do if we work together,” Dr. Cruz said at Monday’s event. “We know that every day people in our community face challenges, really big challenges, such as the family losing their homes, students struggling with anxiety, someone searching for any employment. And at these moments, everyone deserves somewhere where they can turn.”
Both Aicher and Dr. Cruz said the size of the donation isn’t important. “To the people in need, it all adds up,” Aicher said. “Your giving goes farther than you think.”
And every single contribution matters, Dr. Cruz added. “Together, we can create a lasting impact on the people in our community and families that need that the most,” he said.
Cappaert, who recently started her ninth year at the college, has contributed to every giving campaign since she began. Plus, she has increased her donation every year, she said.
“There are other people in this world who need things way more than I do,” she said. “There’s no reason in the world for us not to help.”
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About MATC: Wisconsin’s largest technical college and one of the most diverse two-year institutions in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. More than 35,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers more than 180 academic programs — many that prepare students for jobs immediately upon completion and others that provide transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 45 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.