RWJBarnabas and NJ Devils Fortify Partnership to Build Healthier Communities

On Feb 22, 2024

RWJBarnabas Health and the New Jersey Devils have announced the multi-year extension of their innovative partnership that will strengthen the impact the two enterprises are making together in their shared vision of building healthier communities. The two organizations have outlined a multi-tiered activation plan allowing the two brands to utilize shared resources to improve community health.

As part of the agreement, the Devils and RWJBarnabas Health have developed a youth hockey program to engage with children across New Jersey. Touching more than 40 hockey rinks throughout the state as part of the New Jersey Devils Rink Partners program, the initiative is designed to grow the sport of hockey via accessibility, training, on/off-ice skills, and the promotion of health and wellness.

RWJBarnabas Health has created an educational blueprint that will teach children and their families the importance of leading active, nutritious lifestyles and important injury prevention techniques, all with the goal of encouraging healthy habits at a young age. This is combined with the Devils’ support of coaching, mental health, and athlete care seminars, providing participants with access to NHL-level guidance and education.

“The opportunity to strengthen RWJBarnabas Health’s 30-year partnership with the New Jersey Devils reinforces our shared commitment to improve community health,” said Mark E. Manigan, president and CEO, RWJBarnabas Health. “While this multi-faceted affiliation serves to provide world-class clinical care to professional athletes, equally important, our combined resources will continue to elevate and advance critical community-based health care programs and services across the state.”

Serving as a visual representation of the enhanced collaboration and commitment, RWJBarnabas Health becomes the team’s first-ever home jersey patch partner, a strategic move designed to strengthen the brand association between the organizations. The home jersey branding will also be fully integrated throughout RWJBarnabas Health and Devils’ activations on and off the ice and, more importantly, throughout the community.

“We are beyond excited to extend our long-standing partnership with the largest academic health care system in New Jersey, RWJBarnabas Health, and together unveil the first-ever jersey patch partner for the New Jersey Devils,” said Jake Reynolds, president, New Jersey Devils & Prudential Center. “Together with RWJBarnabas Health, we will continue to play an instrumental role in supporting youth hockey programs, fulfill our shared vision of building healthier communities throughout New Jersey and help support the highest level of care for our athletes.”

The agreement also expands RWJBarnabas Health’s current Devils’ initiatives which includes: Hosting the annual ‘Running with the Devils 5K Run & Walk,’ offering live & virtual options to promote healthy, active lifestyles; Supporting youth hockey programs, such as Learn to Play and high school hockey; Devils players, alumni and mascot NJ will continue to support community-based programs, including the annual system-wide hospital visits designed to lift the spirits of patients and staff that may be spending the holiday season in the hospital; Hosting annual blood drives, community screenings and important cause nights, and immersive patient experiences highlighted by the Rock Star program, a VIP gameday experience that honors patients and their RWJBarnabas Health care teams, which incorporates meeting players and in-game recognition.

RWJBarnabas Health will continue to be the presenting partner of the Devils’ annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night, an opportunity to raise awareness for cancer research and care, while honoring a patient/cancer survivor and their health care team. Elevating this initiative and raising funds to support clinical care, and treatment for cancer patients, while delivering necessary resources to hospitals throughout the system is a priority. To date, funds from this initiative have supported the renovation/enhancement of infusion centers at several hospitals, a new waiting room at The Valerie Fund at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, and the purchase of several vehicles to provide patient and clinical team transportation.

Moreover, the RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House, located at Prudential Center, and the home for youth teams, club teams, high school teams, and special events throughout the year, will continue to serve as a primary venue to engage with youth and support community-based health initiatives.

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