Dear Friend,

Happy Giving Tuesday!

I hope you all enjoyed a restful Thanksgiving. This time of year, I’m thankful for the community I’m honored to serve and I’m amazed by the generosity and spirit of our neighbors. Despite all the challenges, our community never fails to lift each other up.

Our community is incredibly generous. Not a day has passed this year where I didn’t see people performing acts of kindness in our neighborhood. Our sense of community is what makes Brooklyn unique.

That’s why it’s so important to me to take a moment to encourage you, friend, to get involved with some of the charities doing amazing work this holiday season. Whether you have the means to donate or just want to volunteer your time, these charities need all the support they can get to help our city and community thrive in the new year.

1. CUNY Tuesday

As a CUNY alum, I know firsthand how transformative a CUNY college education is. CUNY Tuesday is a giving campaign that removes financial barriers like tuition, board, and stipends for students who might otherwise not be able to attend CUNY schools.

2. IRC NYC

The International Rescue Committee in New York City provides the support refugees need in order to thrive in America. They ensure children are enrolled in school, adults become self-reliant through employment or starting businesses, and families receive any acute medical care they need to recover from trauma or illness.

3. Breaking Ground

At Breaking Ground, solving homelessness means more than providing housing. Breaking Ground provides wraparound services, like benefits assistance, mental health care, and self-sufficiency programs, to allow homeless New Yorkers to transform their lives. Annually, they help more than 8,000 vulnerable New Yorkers.

4. Families for Safe Streets

This organization uses advocacy and support to confront the epidemic of traffic violence in our neighborhoods. Their work lowering the speed limit, installing cameras in school zones, re-engineering dangerous intersections, and changing the culture of reckless driving has saved countless lives.

I know this is always a busy time of year, but I hope you’ll consider chipping in or lending a hand to these life-changing organizations.

I wish you the absolute best this holiday season. Thank you for contributing to the love and support that makes our community so unique.

In service,