CAMDEN, NJ (October 31, 2026) — Camden Community Partnership (CCP) brought together a diverse coalition of government, business, healthcare, education, nonprofit, and community leaders on October 27 for its 2026 Annual Meeting at the Adventure Aquarium. The afternoon gathering centered on the theme “Camden Connected: People, Places, Progress,” celebrating the historical partnerships that have shaped Camden while charting a course for the city’s next chapter.
The program featured keynote remarks from New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, honored George E. Norcross III with the 2026 Camden Hero Award, recognized CCP’s four original anchor institutions with Legacy Awards, paid a special memorial tribute to CCP’s founding President and CEO Thomas P. Corcoran, and premiered the 2026 Camden Impact Video.
“CCP was created on the belief that Camden’s future is strongest when we all come together around a shared vision,” said Dana L. Redd, President and CEO of Camden Community Partnership. “For more than forty years, this organization has served as a platform for collaboration, bringing together partners to turn ideas into meaningful investments and opportunities. Our Annual Meeting is a moment to celebrate that history while recognizing the people who continue to carry this critical work forward.”
A central highlight of the afternoon was the presentation of the 2026 Camden Hero Award to George E. Norcross III, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cooper Norcross Health and Executive Chairman of Conner, Strong & Buckelew. Mr. Norcross was recognized for his decades of advocacy and vision, which have established Camden as a regional leader in education, healthcare, workforce development, and economic opportunity. His relationship with CCP spans back to the organization’s earliest days when he served as one of its original Board members in 1984.
“I am deeply honored to be recognized on behalf of the work my entire family – beginning with my parents and continuing with my now-adult children, Lexie and Alex – has done in partnership with so many others on behalf of Camden, a city which has made one of the most remarkable turnarounds in American history,” said Norcross. “I know that with strong continued leadership and the commitment of people like Governor Sherrill, Mayor Carstarphen, CCP President and CEO Dana Redd and business, non-profit and community leaders, Camden’s best days are ahead.”
The annual meeting also included a deeply moving memorial tribute to Thomas P. Corcoran, CCP’s founding President and CEO. Mr. Corcoran spearheaded the original vision for the Camden Waterfront at a time when few could envision its potential. The tribute featured a retrospective video honoring his life, legacy, and dedication to cultivating the next generation of urban leaders. In recognition of his life’s work in Camden, CCP announced it will make a charitable donation to the Penn Memory Center in Mr. Corcoran’s honor.
The Camden Legacy Awards were also presented to the foundational institutions that established the organization: The Campbell’s Company, Cooper Norcross Health, Rutgers University–Camden, and the City of Camden. The City’s award was presented posthumously in honor of former Mayor Melvin “Randy” Primas. These founding entities were honored for their decades of investment in local jobs, education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
In one of the most anticipated moments of the annual event, CCP premiered the 2026 Camden Impact Video, which personified this year’s theme by highlighting the great work being done to shape the city, and how a new generation of leaders is helping lead the way.
Mayor Carstarphen energized the audience with a passionate reflection on Camden’s ongoing transformation, highlighting the collective efforts that have driven progress and expressing confidence in what lies ahead.
“Camden Connected is truly more than a theme. It describes Camden’s resilience, our ability to unite, and our shared commitment to strengthen our city,” said Mayor Carstarphen. “The numbers tell an important story, from billions of dollars in investment and new development to historic reductions in crime and major investments in our parks. But what those numbers represent matters even more. When our people, neighborhoods and institutions are connected around a shared vision for the future, there is no limit to what we can accomplish together.”
Closing the annual event, Mark McDonough, President of New Jersey American Water and Co-Chair of Camden Community Partnership, shared his perspective on corporate stewardship in the community.
“Camden is a city that has a special place in my heart, and I am proud that New Jersey American Water calls Camden home,” said Mr. McDonough. “I see the progress happening in Camden every day, and I see the people who are making it happen. There is a real sense of pride in this city, and a real determination to make it better. I’m grateful to be part of that journey, and I’m even more excited about what we can accomplish together.”
