Spectrum Joined Senator La Tonya Johnson to Award $10,000 to Benedict Center

MILWAUKEE (July 30, 2021) — Spectrum today announced a donation of $10,000 to Benedict Center, as part of the company’s national community philanthropic program, Spectrum Employee Community Grants, part of a $1 million programming commitment through year-end 2021.

The funding will support Benedict Center’s Women’s Harm Reduction Program. The program helps provide effective substance use and mental health treatment, education, and basic life need assistance for justice-involved women.

Spectrum leaders and Senator La Tonya Johnson joined Benedict Center, Friday, July 30 at 11:00 a.m., during a check presentation to commemorate the donation.

“We are grateful for the continued support from the Spectrum Employee Community Grant program,” said Jeanne Geraci, Executive Director of Benedict Center. “This program shows how much Spectrum supports its employees and the community. The funds will help us provide advocacy and basic needs to women in our Women’s Harm Reduction Program. Together, Spectrum and the Benedict Center are helping women be successful in their healing journey.”

Spectrum Employee Community Grants has provided funding to more than 250 local nonprofits in 30 states throughout the company’s service area since its inception in July 2019.  Benedict Center has received $17,500 from Spectrum through the Spectrum Employee Community Grant program since the start of the program.

“Through Spectrum Employee Community Grants, we’re proud to provide support to vital community organizations with which our local employees are already volunteering their time and talent,” said Melissa Morris, Area Vice President of Field Operations in Wisconsin. “Together, we’re building stronger communities where our customers and employees live and work across America.”

Recipients deliver critical social services, helping underserved residents meet basic needs, including food, shelter, clothing, job training and neighborhood safety. Each awardee is nominated by one of the company’s 96,000 U.S. employees who has volunteered with the organization for at least one year.

Spectrum Employee Community Grants are one of several philanthropic programs at Charter Communications, Inc. — which operates the Spectrum brand — developed to support communities where the company provides service and where its employees live and work. 

“Great things happen when nonprofits and businesses work together in our community,” said Sen. Johnson. “The donation from Spectrum to Benedict Center highlights the importance of partnerships to help those in need get access to critical resources.”

Key Spectrum Community Impact Initiatives

Spectrum surpassed its multiyear commitment to award $6 million in cash and in-kind donations to support broadband education through Spectrum Digital Education, which have benefited more than 56,000 people across 17 states and Washington, D.C., since 2017.

Charter has committed $22 million to assist minority-owned businesses within its footprint. In 2020, Charter launched the Spectrum Community Investment Loan Fund to invest in community development financial institutions (CDFIs), and with national partners like National Action Network and the National Urban League, to provide low-cost loans to diverse-owned small businesses whose goods and services help meet core needs in underserved communities. 

In the spring of 2020, Charter introduced Spectrum Scholars, a two-year educational program for eligible rising juniors in financial need, that will award a total of $400,000 in scholarship aid, provide company mentors for students, as well as connect them with potential internship opportunities at Charter.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.