CMP 2025 Thanksgiving Reception
On November 18th, CMP hosted a Thanksgiving Reception to express our heartfelt appreciation to the generous donors and supporters who have stood alongside us throughout the year. The event, held at CMP’s headquarters at 55 Chrystie Street, brought together over 70 guests, including board members and committed supporters and contributors.
The gathering offered a warm and meaningful opportunity for our board members and donors to connect directly with the CMP team, learn more about our ongoing initiatives, and see firsthand how their support continues to advance CMP’s mission of fostering economic independence and community empowerment.
Group Picture from 2025 CMP Thanksgiving Reception
The highlight of the evening was the 7 p.m. media ceremony, where attendees had the opportunity to hear inspiring stories from our former students, Brady, Kamfong and Wenhui. These individuals shared their transformative journeys, narrating how CMP played a pivotal role in their personal development, leaving a positive impact on their lives.
Brady is a dedicated lifelong learner and entrepreneur. A long-time immigrant, he began his journey in the United States working as a food delivery driver while striving to build a better future. Although he didn’t have the opportunity to study English when he first arrived, Brady never gave up on his dream of learning the language. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, he enrolled in CMP’s English program but had to withdraw due to his demanding work schedule. When classes moved online, he eagerly rejoined CMP English class and has continued studying whenever time allows.
Today, Brady is the proud owner of a nail salon and continues to attend English classes at CMP, balancing work and learning with remarkable dedication.
Kamfong immigrated from Hong Kong to the U.S. 21 years ago and has worked tirelessly to build a better life for her family. Despite many challenges, including pausing her education and overcoming personal hardship, she never gave up. After her twin sons were accepted into MIT, Kamfong decided it was time to focus on her own growth. She joined CMP’s English classes, where she regained confidence, improved her language skills, and found a supportive community that inspired her to keep moving forward.
With guidance from CMP’s Business Outreach Center (BOC), Kamfong earned her vendor permit and began pursuing her dream of starting her own business.
Wenhui joined CMP’s Train and Earn Program in 2017 after immigrating from China to the U.S. With limited English at the time, he worked hard to improve his language and academic skills through CMP’s training and support. After completing the program, Wilson went on to study at LaGuardia Community College, then earned his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University at Buffalo. He is now an Associate Software Engineer at the Bank of New York (BNY).
Several government representatives attended the event to show their support for CMP and its mission. Guests included Adam Chen from the Office of New York State Attorney General Letitia James, State Senator Brian Kavanagh, Fannie Ip, Community Relations Director for Assembly Member Grace Lee, and Dynishal Gross, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. Their presence underscored the government’s strong commitment to community development and immigrant education, and they commended CMP’s ongoing contributions to empowering adults and strengthening New York’s diverse communities.
Some highlight photos:
