The holiday season is a time to reflect, give thanks, and come together in ways that truly matter. Our holiday party became more than a celebration; it became a moment to honor the causes closest to the hearts of some of our C3 team. C3's President Matthew strongly believes that when something matters deeply to our people, it matters to him too. That belief is rooted in one of C3’s core values: Deep Caring for the Success of Others.
Each organization highlighted here was nominated by a C3er who is personally invested, through time, advocacy, lived experience, or unwavering commitment. These are not distant causes; they are deeply human stories grounded in compassion and community. We are proud to support the organizations that mean so much to our team and even prouder of the people at C3 who lead with heart, not just during the holiday season, but every day.
Jason Bourque – Share A Smile
C3 Global Technology Advisor Jason Bourque nominated Share A Smile, a Michigan-based nonprofit dedicated to offering hope and stability to individuals and families facing unexpected hardship. Jason first learned about the organization six years ago during a charity golf outing, where he heard their story and saw firsthand the impact they make in the lives of people experiencing crisis. Share A Smile provides compassionate, practical support, helping with rent and utility payments, transportation to medical treatments, and other essential needs during difficult times. Their mission is simple yet profound: to step in when life becomes overwhelming and offer the kind of community care that helps families regain their footing.
This year, C3 was honored to support Share A Smile’s work through a thoughtful $2,000 contribution, reinforcing the organization’s ability to meet urgent needs and bring stability to families navigating hardship. Jason’s admiration for Share A Smile speaks to the heart of who they are and why their mission resonates so deeply. We are grateful for his passion and pride in supporting a charity that makes such a meaningful difference right here in Michigan.
Ryan Boyk - Manasseh Project/Wedgewood Christian Services
C3 Global Technology Advisor Ryan Boyk nominated the Manasseh Project, a program of Wedgwood Christian Services dedicated to helping at-risk youth build long-term career paths. The Manasseh Project works directly with young people who have faced significant challenges, offering them hands-on opportunities to learn valuable trades and gain real-world work experience. Youth in the program are introduced to careers such as landscaping, car detailing, and house cleaning, allowing them to explore skills that align with their interests and strengths. In addition to trade training, participants help create a line of retail goods, including candles, pillows, and handcrafted wood items, which are sold in stores to support the program and reinforce entrepreneurship and accountability. The Manasseh Project also provides counseling services when needed, ensuring youth receive both professional guidance and emotional support as they work toward independence.
This year, C3 supported the Manasseh Project with a thoughtful $2,000 contribution, helping expand access to training, mentorship, and resources for youth in the program. By pairing skill-building with care, the Manasseh Project creates pathways to purpose and opens doors that might otherwise remain closed.
Sarah Caldwell – Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes
C3 Operations Coordinator Sarah Caldwell has a long and meaningful connection to Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes (JA), an organization dedicated to empowering young people with financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurial skills. Through classroom lessons and immersive experiences such as JA BizTown and JA Finance Park, JA served more than 52,000 students across 50 Michigan counties during the 2024–25 school year.
Sarah previously served as JA’s Director of Development and now volunteers on their Associate Leadership Board. She also teaches JA lessons at a Catholic school in Holland and is joining the event committee for the upcoming JA Girls Dream Fair: A STEM Experience, which introduces middle school girls to inspiring careers in STEM.
This year, C3 was honored to support JA’s mission with a thoughtful $3,000 contribution, reinforcing the impact that Sara helps create in our community. We are so proud of her dedication to empowering young people and the heart she brings to this meaningful work.
Alyson Dashner – The Passion & Purpose Project
C3 Client Lifecycle Manager Alyson Dashner is deeply involved with The Passion & Purpose Project, a Cincinnati-based organization dedicated to uplifting families in need. One of their most meaningful initiatives is the Good Fight Food Drive, which brings comfort and holiday warmth to families across the Cincinnati area.
In 2024, the Good Fight Food Drive provided 1,203 full Thanksgiving meals to local families. And in 2025, after officially forming their nonprofit to support future growth and reach even more households, their impact grew even stronger. Because of the hard work of volunteers and supporters, along with a thoughtful $5,000 C3 contribution made ahead of the holiday party to ensure it reached families in time for Thanksgiving, the Good Fight Food Drive delivered 1,806 Thanksgiving meals this year, each paired with a $20 gift card to help cover additional holiday essentials.
Their initiative is inspiring, and Alyson’s passion for this work reflects the heart of what makes the C3 community so special. Alyson, we are incredibly proud of your dedication and the impact you help create for families who need it most.
Ryan Dengate – AYA Youth National
C3 Lead Cloud & Security Engineer Ryan Dengate nominated AYA Youth National, an organization whose mission is deeply meaningful to both Ryan and his husband. AYA is dedicated to supporting youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability, young people who often find themselves without a safe place to turn during some of the most vulnerable moments in their lives.
Ryan’s husband was once in that position himself. As a teenager, he was kicked out of his home and had to find housing on his own. He was fortunate to have an older friend open their spare room to him, a kindness that changed the course of his life and remains a powerful reminder of what support can mean in a moment of crisis. That experience fuels their commitment to AYA’s work. Ryan has witnessed this need firsthand as well. When his son Jacob was just 12 years old, he was asked to leave his mother’s home. Ryan was able to welcome him into a stable, loving environment, but he knows many young people do not have that kind of safety net.
AYA Youth National steps in for those who don’t. The organization provides essential resources, stability, and pathways forward for youth facing housing insecurity, with a focus on building agency, resiliency, and creativity, values that resonate deeply with Ryan and his family. Ryan and his husband donate monthly, volunteer their time, and use their networks to help expand AYA’s reach in the community. This year, C3 was honored to support AYA Youth National’s mission through a thoughtful $2,000 contribution, helping extend stability and hope to even more young people in need. We are incredibly proud of Ryan’s dedication and grateful for the compassion he brings to this meaningful cause.
Kimmie DiBenedetto – Client Lifecycle Manager
C3 Client Lifecycle Manager Kimmie DiBenedetto pours her whole heart into supporting the Parma Animal Shelter, a nonprofit in Cleveland ran entirely on donations and community care. Her involvement started five years ago with a simple table at the end of her driveway collecting pet food, an act of kindness that sparked something much bigger. What began as a small neighborhood fundraiser has grown into Play for Paws, an annual softball tournament created by Kimmie that has become a major community event. In just two years, Play for Paws expanded from $4,000 raised to an incredible $16,000 plus food donations, drawing more than 140 participants and dozens of sponsors, all to be donated to the Parma Animal Shelter.
This year brought even more heartwarming moments. Kimmie helped lead Barking Backers Jingle Paws, a holiday event with the Cleveland Browns where she raised $1,000 in just two hours and collected 195 rolls of paper towels for the shelter, all while hosting joyful “photos with Santa” for pet families. She was also appointed Public Information Officer, and just recently received the wonderful news that she will be the next Vice President of the Parma Animal Shelter.
To honor her passion and support the shelter's mission, C3 contributed a thoughtful $5,000 donation this year, helping fuel the work that means so much to Kimmie. We are incredibly proud of her compassion, her leadership, and the joy she brings to this cause.
Scott Foster – Forgotten Harvest
C3 Global Technology Advisor Scott Foster is a dedicated supporter of Forgotten Harvest, a metro Detroit nonprofit with a powerful mission to fight hunger and reduce food waste. Forgotten Harvest rescues surplus food from grocery stores, farms, restaurants, and other partners, food that would otherwise go to waste and redistributes it free of charge to local food pantries, shelters, and community centers. Each year, this organization provides millions of pounds of fresh, nutritious food to families across southeastern Michigan, ensuring that no good food goes unused and no family is left without support during the holiday season and beyond.
If you’ve ever taken a look at Scott’s LinkedIn, you’ll see just how involved he is. Whether he’s learning more about the mission and sharing it with his network or volunteering alongside his family to package food, his passion is unmistakable. We are proud to support Scott and the cause he is so deeply committed too, made even more special this year through a thoughtful $3,000 C3 contribution to help further Forgotten Harvest’s impact. Forgotten Harvest is a powerful reminder of how collective action can nourish entire communities, and Scott’s commitment to this organization reflects the deep care and generosity that runs through the C3 team.
Austin Lacy – Riley Settergren Foundation
C3 Global Technology Advisor Austin Lacy nominated the Riley Settergren Foundation, a cause rooted in community, remembrance, and meaningful impact. Austin has supported the foundation for years through its annual fundraising event, which serves as its primary avenue for giving back.
The Riley Settergren Foundation was established in memory of Riley Settergren, who tragically lost his life in a car accident involving farming equipment in 2018, just days before his senior year of high school. The foundation honors Riley’s life by supporting the causes he cared deeply about, including youth sports organizations, 4-H clubs, and local community initiatives. It also provides scholarships to graduating students from Hancock County schools and works to promote agriculture safety awareness and policy changes to help prevent similar accidents in the future.
This year, C3 was honored to support the foundation’s mission through a thoughtful $2,000 contribution, helping further its work in education, advocacy, and community support. We are grateful to Austin for bringing this meaningful cause forward and proud to support a foundation that continues to turn remembrance into lasting impact.
Robert Lapp – National Multiple Sclerosis Society
C3 Global Technology Advisor Robert Lapp nominated the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, a cause that is deeply personal to him and his family. After his younger brother was diagnosed with MS in 2018, Robert wanted to find a way to help, and that desire turned into action. For the past six years, Robert has hosted his own annual fundraiser, a laid-back Ugly Holiday Sweater event that brings friends, family, and community together for an open bar, good conversation, and a shared purpose. What started as a simple idea has grown into a meaningful tradition, with the 7th annual event taking place next month. Alongside the fundraiser, Robert also participates in the organization’s annual MS Walk in Chicago, continuing to support the mission year-round.
This year, C3 supported the cause with a $2,000 contribution to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Robert’s ongoing commitment is a reminder that meaningful change often starts with showing up and bringing people together.
Sheila Snow – We Do Care
C3 Financial Controller and HR Manager Sheila Snow holds a meaningful connection to We Do Care, a Grand Rapids–based charity devoted to bringing comfort and joy to children battling cancer. Her involvement began when she was just 16 years old. Her best friend’s grandfather, while undergoing his own cancer treatments, was profoundly moved by the courage of the children around him. Determined to make a difference, he founded We Do Care, and Sheila has been part of the organization’s story ever since. For the past eight years, Sheila has served as the charity’s treasurer, helping steward resources that directly support local families facing unimaginable challenges. Their support can look like gas cards to ease travel costs, meals during long hospital days, trips to places like Great Wolf Lodge or Traverse City, tablets and laptops for kids to use during chemo, or even simple groceries when a family is stretched thin.
This year, C3 was honored to make a thoughtful $2,000 contribution to support We Do Care’s mission and help bring comfort to even more children and families during the holiday season. We are incredibly proud of Sheila’s compassion and her unwavering dedication to ensuring that every child We Do Care touches feels seen, supported, and loved.
Kaitlin Wood – Trail Tigers
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C3 Events Manager Kaitlin Wood nominated Trail Tigers, a summer program that brings kids ages 5–14 outdoors to learn trail stewardship, build confidence, and develop a lifelong love for movement and healthy living. If you know Kaitlin, you know just how deeply she loves, enjoys, and supports the running community and Trail Tigers reflects that passion in its purest form. Through running, exploration, and teamwork, the program creates a space where kids grow not just physically, but socially and emotionally. Last year’s support helped provide scholarships for children who otherwise wouldn’t have been able to participate, ensuring more kids could experience the encouragement and belonging Trail Tigers offers. Kaitlin has had the privilege of coaching with the program for several years, watching the same group of kids grow, mature, and gain confidence over time.
One recent moment stood out. Kaitlin ran into a young athlete she’s coached for the past three years, a child who has faced anxiety and communication challenges, who excitedly shared updates about school and her plans to run a 5K Turkey Trot. Seeing that growth firsthand was a powerful reminder that Trail Tigers helps build more than healthy habits; it helps kids find their voice within their community.
C3’s $2,000 contribution helps ensure more kids can experience the joy, confidence, and connection Trail Tigers provides. Those moments of growth often become the foundation for healthy habits and self-belief that carry forward.
This is a great reminder that impact doesn’t always start with grand gestures, it often begins with people who care deeply and choose to act. Each organization recognized here represents a story, a relationship, and a cause that truly matters to someone on our team. These donations are more than numbers or acknowledgments; they’re an extension of the compassion and community that define C3. When we support what our people care about, we create a ripple effect that reaches far beyond our walls. This is what Deep Caring for the Success of Others looks like in action and it’s something we’re proud to carry forward, during the holidays and throughout the year.
