The Devils Youth Foundation presented a $25,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Newark at the New Jersey Devils home game vs. the Boston Bruins. The donation is supported by proceeds from former Devils Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur’s annual “MB30” alumni invitational charity golf tournament, held on September 28, 2021. The donation will help to provide much-needed support for the Boys & Girls of Newark’s endeavors to provide affordable after school, weekend and summer programs to thousands of children in Newark and the surrounding communities.
Alongside Boys & Girls Club youth members and executives, Devils Youth Foundation leadership, including recently named Executive Director Kate Whitman Annis, will make a ceremonial presentation of the $25,000 donation during the first TV timeout of the Devils vs. Bruins game. The presentation will also be featured during the television broadcast of the game on MSG+, on the club’s digital broadcast on Devils Hockey Network and highlighted throughout the day on the club’s social and media platforms.
“The Boys & Girls Club of Newark, and their dedication to providing educational and engaging care and leadership for the youth of Newark and New Jersey reflects the ambition and character of organizations with whom the Devils Youth Foundation is proud to associate,” said Devils Youth Foundation Executive Director Kate Whitman Annis.“We are prouder still that the support for this donation, through the Devils Youth Foundation, was made possible by one of the New Jersey Devils most decorated alumni, Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur; a true philanthropist and ambassador of our Foundation’s guiding principles and focus – using the powerful platform of sports, entertainment and music to guide and inspire the youth of New Jersey.”
“The New Jersey Devils have long been a partner of Boys & Girls Club of Newark. Together we’ve taught young people the game of Street Hockey, introduced inner city youth to ice skating, and collaborated on a number of sports related activities like our Pop Up Play Streets,” said Ameer Washington, Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Newark. “During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Jersey Devils took their support further with $25,000 in relief funding, to ensure our youth continued to have access to high quality activities that enable them to learn and grow. The Boys & Girls Club of Newark is so excited to continue our partnership with the Devils to elevate our health and fitness programs through our long running Triple Play Health and Wellness initiative. Triple Play teaches young people to foster health through the Mind, Body, and Soul. Through structured fitness activities, nutrition programming, and mental and behavioral health care, our young people learn to make a lifelong commitment to their overall health.”
The Devils Youth Foundation announced the appointment of Kate Whitman Annis to the role of Executive Director on Friday, November 12. Whitman Annis will lead the day-to-day operations of the Devils Youth Foundation, including fundraising, grant strategy, special event planning and community partner relationships. In her role, Whitman Annis will be responsible for driving positive change by leveraging the incredible platform of sports and entertainment provided by the Devils and Prudential Center, one of the world’s leading arenas. Whitman Annis joins the Devils Youth Foundation following a decorated career spanning non-profit operations, public service, event management, fundraising, education, communications, and professional sports; including a previous role as the Assistant Coach and then General Manager of the Metropolitan Riveters of the Premier Hockey Federation (formerly the NWHL) between 2019 and 2021.
The DYF donation is a philanthropical element of New Jersey Devils Annual Kids Day Game where all aspects of the day, from game presentation, introductions, interviews and more, are taken over by kids.
This donation to Boys & Girls Club of Newark extends the club and Foundation’s dedication and commitment to its home city of Newark and the surrounding communities. In the past year, the Devils and DYF have supported dozensof additional nonprofit organizations including Newark Working Kitchens, the Urban League of Essex County, Hockey in New Jersey, Jazz House Kids, Special Olympics New Jersey, The American Red Cross, the Cancer Infusion Center at Clara Maass Medical Center, Garden State Equality and The Salvation Army.
