Give To CAMBA While You Do Your Holiday Shopping
AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support CAMBA every time you shop, at no cost to you. AmazonSmile is available at smile.amazon.com on your web browser and can be activated in the Amazon Shopping app for iOS and Android phones. When you shop at AmazonSmile, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added benefit that AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to CAMBA!

How do I shop at AmazonSmile?

To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com on your web browser or activate AmazonSmile on your Amazon Shopping app on your iOS or Android phone (found under settings on your app). On your browser, you may also want to add a bookmark to smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile. When you’re using the app, always check for the “AmazonSmile” logo to ensure you’re activated for AmazonSmile.  
CAMBA Night Out (CNO) always takes a great deal of preparation to organize, but CNO 2020 redefined the meaning of preparation for us, as it was our first virtual gala. Click here to see a streamlined version of the evening including highlights of CAMBA’s program response to the pandemic, our 2020 Honoree, and special guest Norah Jones! 

This year, we proudly honored lifestyle furnishings company, and CAMBA’s extraordinary partner, west elm. They are in the process of redesigning and refurbishing community rooms in our nine Cornerstone Community Centers. In addition, Jordan Short, west elm’s Manager of Community Outreach and Diversity, led staff in organizing food, toy, and back-to-school drives, and a student career day. When CAMBA’s President and CEO Joanne M. Oplustil presented west elm CEO Alex Bellos with the 2020 Corporate Leadership Award, Alex said, “There’s nothing more inspiring than seeing the impact of our work." When you view the video and the before/after pictures of the spaces west elm transformed, you too will be inspired. Like CAMBA, west elm was born in Brooklyn – what a wonderful partner!
Joanne M. Oplustil presenting the 2020 Corporate Leadership Award to west elm CEO Alex Bellos
The incomparable silver lining for this year’s virtual gala was Norah Jones who performed two of her beautiful songs. Knowing CAMBA and the work we do helping struggling New Yorkers, Ms. Jones graciously agreed to share her extraordinary talent with us. We were especially honored when she introduced herself and her first song by saying “I just wanted to say thanks to everyone at CAMBA for working so hard in the community.” Please take a few minutes to enjoy Ms. Jones performances now. 

Thanks to all who supported CAMBA Night Out, from donors and sponsors, to those who donated auction items and those who bid on them. While we missed seeing everyone in person, it was still an unforgettable night!
CAMBA started “Getting out the Count” in February 2020 by hiring a Census Team to work across all CAMBA programs and locations. When the in-person implementation plan changed due to COVID, we pivoted to remote Town Halls, phone calls, texting, emails, and working with staff, clients, volunteers, and our business partners to be Census ambassadors. When COVID guidelines allowed for it, we spoke with our neighbors waiting on pantry lines, we walked through the open-air malls providing Census information and PPE, and we hosted a Gospel Concert to get the word out. Because we work with communities that typically don’t respond to the Census at a high level, we focused on communicating how the result would meaningfully and directly impact them and their families. We shared that their response would ensure sufficient funding for public education and healthcare in their community, as well as many of the programs needed by their families and communities for the next 10 years.

We were thrilled when the results came in. The Census Bureau projected a 58% response rate for New York City pre-COVID, but we achieved a 62% response rate— even with the unprecedented challenges created by the pandemic. We can also take a bow since New York City came in #1 amongst America’s largest cities! We thought it would be worth mentioning that we beat Detroit, Miami, Philadelphia, Baltimore, L.A., Houston, Boston, Atlanta, Dallas, Orlando, and Chicago who came in #2.

We are so proud of our Census team and all New Yorkers for doing their civic duty. Kudos to all! 
Engaging The Community
CAMBA’s thirteen Beacon and Cornerstone Community Centers have been focused on bringing the community back together, but we realized we needed to find a creative way to promote available programs, and encourage parents and students to enroll. Staff relied on technology (what else!) and converted the paper application to an online format that parents can now easily complete on their phones. The team also created a step-by-step guide and video walkthrough of how to register students online. We’ve already received 75 applications through the DYCD online portal (up from only one application last year)! In addition, all after-school, evening, and Saturday programming had to be completely reimagined to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines. School-based after school programs are keeping students in their school day "pods," which also requires CAMBA programs to follow the school's hybrid model. For example, our Beacon Centers are serving three different sets of students that attend the program on different days.
Celebrating Your 70 ½ Birthday? Give an IRA Distribution to CAMBA and Reap the Benefits!
Yet another reason for you, your mom, dad, or others in your family to give and get! Donors over 70 ½ can send IRA distributions directly to a qualified charity and satisfy their required minimum annual distribution. In so doing, you get a charitable donation even if you do not itemize deductions. Your adjusted gross income will be lower, thereby reducing your taxable income. Other benefits may include keeping Medicare premiums at a lower level. Please speak with your tax advisor to fully understand your personal benefit from charitable donations.

Please consider giving to CAMBA before December 31st – your gift will change the lives of others, providing the best return on investment.
CAMBA IS HIRING!
CAMBA offers excellent career opportunities to candidates who are interested in growing with one of New York City's largest multi-service nonprofit providers. Please visit CAMBA.org/careers to learn more about our programs and achievements.

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CAMBA connects New Yorkers to opportunities through its dedicated staff, who are trained to provide solutions to the biggest challenges of life in New York.
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