New Jersey Devils, Prudential Center and Goya Foods employees, along with Devils Alumni members, teamed up this week at the Community FoodBank of New Jersey for their annual Day of Service. More than 50 employees from the two organizations worked together to sort and bag 20,000 pounds of food, a portion of the 35,000 total pounds collected and donated during the 2016 - 2017 hockey season. The 35,000 pounds of food is equal to over 29,000 meals that will be distributed to Newark families in need during the winter months.
"We are extremely proud to partner with Goya, a New Jersey company that shares our commitment to giving back to the communities we live, work and play in," said Jeff Scott, Vice President of Community Investment, New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center. "Today's Day of Service, combined with the annual Food Drive at The Rock, is a shining example of how true collaboration can make a difference in New Jersey."
The Day of Service is the second of three events between the Devils and Goya, the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the United States, during the 2016 - 2017 hockey season. In November, the Devils’ annual Food Drive presented by Goya collected 15,000 pounds of food from Devils fans. Goya donated an additional 20,000 pounds to raise the total to 35,000 pounds of food. Prudential Center and the Devils are donating 35,000 tickets as part of the initiative and Newark’s 350th anniversary. “We couldn’t be happier to work side by side with the New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center and are grateful for all that the FoodBank does for families in New Jersey,” said Bob Unanue, President of Goya. “It’s not just about making a donation and then walking away. For us, it’s really about making a difference in our communities.”
Every day, 1.1 million people in New Jersey face hunger; 31 percent of them are Hispanic and 17 percent are children. The donation will help to fill the nutrition gap for the hundreds of thousands of children, families and communities that the FoodBank serves. “We’re grateful for the generosity of Goya, Prudential Center and the New Jersey Devils,” said Debra Vizzi, President and CEO of the FoodBank. “Thanks to them, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey has an additional 35,000 pounds of healthy food for people in need across the state.”
The next event will take place on Friday, January 20, as the Devils and Goya host Hispanic Heritage Night at Prudential Center at 7:30 p.m. as the team faces the Montreal Canadiens. Tickets to the game, which will feature a celebration of Latin culture throughout the night, can be purchased at NewJerseyDevils.com/tickets.
About GOYA
Founded in 1936, Goya Foods, Inc. is America’s largest Hispanic-owned food company, and has established itself as the leader in Latin American food and condiments. Goya manufactures, packages, and distributes over 2,500 high-quality food products from the Caribbean, Mexico, Central and South America. Goya products have their roots in the culinary traditions of Hispanic communities around the world; their combination of authentic ingredients, robust seasonings and convenient preparation make them ideal for every taste and every table. For more information on Goya Foods, please visit www.goya.com. Follow Goya on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest at @GoyaFoods.
About the New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are part of the 30-team National Hockey League, with teams throughout the United States and Canada. Established in 1982, the team is in its 34th season in the Garden State. During that time, the Devils have won three Stanley Cup Championships: 1995, 2000 and 2003. For more information about the Devils, visit NewJerseyDevils.com and follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @NJDevils.
About Prudential Center
Prudential Center is a world-class sports and entertainment venue located in downtown Newark, New Jersey. Opened in October 2007, the state-of-the-art arena is the home of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) three-time Stanley Cup Champion New Jersey Devils, Seton Hall University’s NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball program, and more than 175 concerts, family shows and special events each year. Ranked in the Top 10 nationally by Pollstar, Billboard and Venues Today, Prudential Center is recognized as one of the premier venues in the United States, and welcomes 1.75 million guests annually. For more information about Prudential Center, visit PruCenter.com and follow the arena on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @PruCenter.
About CFBNJ
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), a member of Feeding America®, provides people across the state with food, help and hope. The FoodBank distributed over 43 million pounds of food last year to its more than 1,000 partner charities including pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, mobile pantries, and child and senior feeding programs. For our neighbors, especially families, and for the volunteers and donors who support them, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey is the powerful change agent that fills the emptiness caused by hunger with the basic human essentials that people need to survive. More than 4.7 million times a year, someone in need is fed by the FoodBank’s network of partner charities.
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Contacts:
Goya Foods
Natalie Maniscalco
845.659.6506
Community FoodBank of New Jersey
Mary Faddoul
908-355-3663 ext. 282