The Michaels Organization and Partners Picture a World Free of Hunger in the Lobby of TRIAD 1828 Centre
May 2, 2025, Camden, NJ — Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen and Camden City Council members recently joined executives from The Michaels Organization, Urban Practice, and Better Tomorrows to complete a structure made entirely of canned goods in the lobby of the TRIAD1828 Centre on the Camden Waterfront as part of Canstruction, an international hunger relief charity competition that collects millions of pounds of food each year for local food banks.
“Hunger is a reality for a lot of our residents,” said Mayor Victor Carstarphen. “This idea of Canstruction is amazing for what it stands for and the commitment of care that stands behind it.”
The structure, a Polaroid camera and a standing Polaroid photo titled “Picturing a World Free of Hunger” was designed by the architects of Urban Practice, inspired by this year’s theme, Milestone Moments: One Year Closer to Zero Hunger. The design reflects the nostalgia of Polaroid while addressing a cause that remains pressing and present, a symbolic reminder that the work in fighting hunger is not yet complete.
Each headquartered in Camden, Michaels, Urban Practice, and Better Tomorrows are dedicated to uplifting residents of the City and the surrounding community. “It’s inspiring to have organizations coming together as one,” Mayor Catestraphen continued. “And it’s inspiring what has been built – confidence and trust in our residents, and the care, commitment, and consistency that comes from our partnerships and collaborations.”
All food items – a total of 3,150 canned goods – used in the display were donated by teammates of the three participating organizations, and will be donated to the Food Bank of South Jersey following the formal Canstruction competition at the Deptford Mall next week.
“When we first moved our headquarters to Camden – six years ago now – we committed to being fully integrated into this community, to be part of Camden Rising,” said Kimberlee Schreiber, President of Michaels Management. “When we come to a community, we always promise to be good neighbors. To do what we’ve always done – to give back.”
Michaels currently owns and manages 14 communities throughout Camden, and has awarded nearly $300K in college scholarships to Camden residents through The Michaels Organization Educational Foundation.
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About The Michaels Organization
Michaels is a national leader in residential real estate, offering full-service capabilities in design, development, property management, construction, and investment management. Serving 200,000 residents in more than 600 communities across 39 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Michaels is committed to crafting attainable housing solutions that jumpstart education, civic engagement and neighborhood prosperity, and to creating Communities That Lift Lives. Visit TMO.com our Media Room, and follow us on LinkedIn.
About Urban Practice
UP is a team of talented professionals in Architecture, Construction, Landscape, and Planning. A national residential firm with current projects in affordable, market rate, student, and military sectors, UP’s mission is to enrich the lives of the people in the communities we serve.
About Better Tomorrows
Better Tomorrows provides case management services and impactful community programming to low-income adults, seniors, children, and youth. Our staff have offices located within the affordable housing developments, allowing for direct access to the populations we serve.
