***SHH....This is a secret!***

Dear Benning Family!

Late in the evening on August 8, and following a full shift work, one of dearest community members, Carlos Cal, was involved in a hit and run accident that totaled his car and sent him to the hospital. We are grateful that he was able to walk away with only minor injuries, and his life still in tact. However, he was left without reliable transportation, the means to quickly secure a new vehicle, and family to support him through this traumatic time.

As many of you know, we voted and Carlos was named the Heart of the Campus Award recipient in 2025. Last year, we all recognized that his work in supporting our campus facility is incomparable — moreover, his concern for the people in our building is genuine. This year, he needs more than votes. He needs us to show up for him. Accolades aside, it is only right and just to name that our work would be insurmountably more difficult were it not for his consistent support. Carlos not only works (from sunrise and well beyond sunset) to keep our spaces clean and safe, he is kind and collegial to all!

It’s our turn to show Carlos that he is truly the heart of our campus… by showing up for him! Please consider contributing as much as you can (no amount is too small) in our endeavor to help him through this unimaginable time. We are hoping to raise $5,000 as soon as possible to help Carlos buy another car.

When you share, feel free to share a message of encouragement or an anecdote that explains why you made the donate... but please keep it quiet. This is a surprise for Carlos.

“For a community to be whole and healthy, it must be based on the love and concern for each other.” - Millard Fulller

“We are each other's harvest; we are each other's business; we are each other's magnitude and bond.” - Gwendolyn Brooks