PHOTOS: NFL and United Way of New York City Celebrate Youth Health and Wellness with 18th Annual Hometown Huddle

NEW YORK, Oct. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday, over 100 NFL employees, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, New York Giants players Janoris Jenkins, Donte Deayon and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and New York Jets legend Tony Richardson teamed up with United Way of New York City (UWNYC) CEO Sheena Wright, UWNYC staff, GrowNYC and Irene Spence, principal of Brooklyn Gardens Elementary School in Brownsville, to celebrate the 18^th annual Hometown Huddle initiative and the 43-year partnership between the NFL and United Way. Hometown Huddle is a league-wide day of service where NFL coaches, players and executives give back to their communities and connects the NFL's PLAY 60 campaign— getting children active for 60-minutes a day— with United Way's goal to increase youth health and wellness.

"The partnership between UWNYC and the NFL has positively impacted communities like East New York for decades," said Sheena Wright, President and CEO of United Way of NYC. "NFL volunteers rolled up their sleeves and transformed Success Gardens into one that will help put food on the table for the children who attend Brooklyn Gardens Elementary. It's the volunteer power of individuals, like the over 100 NFL employees who joined us, that makes #NYCStrong."

"We're very proud of our long-standing partnership with United Way and the ways it continues to positively impact our youngest fans," said Anna Isaacson, Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility of the NFL. "Through platforms like Hometown Huddle, we're able to encourage more youth across the country to PLAY 60 and live a healthy lifestyle."

Volunteers eagerly worked together to transform and beautify outdoor learning spaces at both Brooklyn Gardens Elementary and the neighboring East Success Gardens Park, a 40,000-square-foot community garden. Volunteers painted murals and sheds, conducted general garden maintenance, and built garden beds, picnic tables, and shade structures. Volunteers also facilitated a PLAY 60 fitness clinic for 110 4^th and 5^th grade students—bringing the field to the students.

The NFL and United Way invite fans to show how they lead healthy and active lifestyles by tagging @NFLPLAY60 and using the hashtag #HometownHuddle in images on social media channels. Photos will be featured on unitedway.org/play60. 

Easy Tweet: @NFL and @UnitedWay kick off 18^th annual Hometown Huddle league-wide day of service, celebrate youth health and wellness (@nflplay60)

To learn more about the NFL-United Way partnership or NFL PLAY 60 visit unitedway.org/play60 and NFLRUSH.com/play60 or follow @UnitedWay and @NFLPLAY60 on Twitter.

For high resolution photos from the event, please visit UnitedWayNYC.org/HTH16Selects. [Photo credit: Roger Archer / Phaats Photos].

For media inquiries, please contact Jake Oliver at The TASC Group at 212-337-8870 or [email protected].

About NFL PLAY 60
For nearly a decade, NFL PLAY 60 has brought together the NFL's long-standing commitment to health and fitness with partner organizations to increase physical activity among youth. Since the program was launched in 2007, the NFL has committed more than $325 million to youth health and fitness through programming, grants, and media time for public service announcements. The NFL and its teams have constructed more than 200 NFL Youth Fitness Zones and integrated programs into more than 73,000 schools since the campaign launched. NFL PLAY 60 is also implemented locally, as part of the NFL's in-school, after-school and team-based programs. For more information, visit http://www.nflrush.com/play60/.

About United Way of New York City
United Way of New York City (UWNYC) has been a trusted partner to government, corporations, and community-based organizations for nearly 80 years. Serving low-income New Yorkers, UWNYC's collective impact approach enables the diagnosis of neighborhood challenges and the design of solutions to expand education, financial stability, and health opportunities. UWNYC then deploys resources and volunteers while also driving policy change that is guided by measured results. UWNYC envisions caring communities where all individuals and families have access to quality education and the opportunity to lead healthy and financially secure lives. Learn more at www.unitedwaynyc.org.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20141023/154035LOGO

SOURCE United Way of New York City

Related Links

http://www.unitedwaynyc.org