Fast Fund: Will receive $250,000 thanks to Congresswoman Moore

Milwaukee Congresswoman Gwen Moore made sure the LOCAL 212 MATC FAST FUND was included in the community projects receiving federal funding from the omnibus funding bill this year. The grant was $250,000.

Barbara Toles, President of the FAST Fund Board of Directors called the funding “An important contribution to the FAST Fund’s mission to keep MATC students in classes when financial or practical emergencies strike.”

“Congresswoman Moore is totally committed to the Milwaukee community, so we’re not surprised that she would help us, but we appreciate her dedication to students at MATC,” Toles added.

The FAST Fund was started in 2016 by MATC’s faculty and staff union, American Federation of Teachers Local 212 because so many professors were disturbed by the large number of students that had to drop out of class due to housing or food insecurity as well as other emergencies. The FAST Fund’s Executive Director Liz Franczyk explains, “Many of our students are one paycheck away from being on the street, so when their computer breaks down or they get hit with an unexpected medical expense, unlike middle class students, they have no one to turn to for help.”

In the 2021-2022 academic year the FAST Fund aided 765 students with $220,000 in grants. “Already this year we’ve helped 1,050 students with direct and indirect aid totaling over $277,000, and we still have 5 months left to go,” Franczyk added, “so this grant that Gwen Moore secured for us is much needed and will help us keep even more students graduate with their MATC ticket to the middle class.”

Congresswoman Moore added: “I remember what it was like to struggle in school as a poor, single mother. I graduated Marquette because I had a supportive network to help me and my baby girl. Now as a Congresswoman, it is my honor to use Congress’ power of the purse to support Local 212 MATC FAST Fund, which is a vital lifeline that helps students meet their most critical needs, stay in school, and graduate.”