Champions for Charity returns to Americana Manhasset, Wheatley Plaza

Amelia Camurati
Champions for Charity, the annual shopping event at Americana Manhasset and Wheatley Plaza for more than 100 charities. (Photo courtesy of Americana Manhasset)

Long Island’s largest annual shopping event to benefit more than 100 charities returns next week just in time for the holiday season.

Americana Manhasset’s Champions for Charity, founded in 1996, has raised $10 million since its inception for local, regional and national nonprofit organizations benefiting a host of causes.

“These are the people here in our community who view us as part of their family,” Americana Manhasset spokeswoman Rebecca Hollander said. “It’s very important for us to always be true to who we are as a company, and that’s a company that is based on giving back.”

(Photo courtesy of Americana Manhasset)

The event kicks off at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, at all Americana Manhasset stores and select Wheatley Plaza shops and runs through Sunday evening. New to the event this year, Hollander said, was the addition of gourmet food trucks on Thursday and Sunday, with Crazy Cakes, Gorilla Cheese and Brooklyn Popcorn on Thursday and Wafels and Dinges, Crazy Cakes and Gorilla Cheese on Sunday.

To participate, shoppers must visit the Champions for Charity website to register for a Champion Number. During the four-day shopping event, the number can be used during any purchase at participating stores to donate 25 percent of the pre-tax purchase to specific charities.

When registering, shoppers can choose to support specific organizations from more than 100 charities, including Long Island Autism Communities, North Shore Hebrew Academy, Planned Parenthood of Nassau County and the Katie Oppo Research Fund.

The Katie Oppo Research Fund was created after Oppo, a Manhasset resident, died at age 26 from ovarian cancer.

“Now in its 22nd year, Champions for Charity is our hallmark holiday event that brings our community together,” Deirdre Costa Major, retail group president of Castagna Realty, said. “We strive to offer a fulfilling shopping experience and giving back is a significant way of making a difference.”

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