The New Jersey Devils will be working with Prudential Center and Prudential Financial to highlight “Newark’s Cornerstones” this season. “Newark’s Cornerstones” is a “recognition program that will highlight the community service efforts and contributions of individuals in the Brick City” according to the press release on PruCenter.com.
The Devils, Prudential Center and Prudential Financial will be working in conjunction with Mayor Ras Baraka and the City of Newark as the city celebrates its 350th anniversary.
A winner will be chosen from candidates nominated at PruCenter.com/NewarksCornerstones, and narrowed down to eight finalists, in April 2017 and will receive two tickets to all Prudential Center events from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018. The eight finalists will each receive $1,000 donated to the charity of their choice. The finalists will also “be invited to a reception at Kiyo Sakaguchi Hall in Prudential’s new office tower in Newark.”
Hugh Weber, president of the Devils and the Prudential Center was quoted in the press release as saying: “The people of Newark continue to inspire us each day with new ideas, selflessness and an incredible passion for this city. With a unified commitment to Newark’s progress, we are proud to partner with Prudential and Mayor Baraka to showcase the talent and dedication living and working throughout the Brick City.”
The panel that will pick the eight finalists consists of City Councilman Luis Quintana, The Star-Ledger columnist Barry Carter, Trever Phillips (Senior Manager of Special Projects for the Office of Mayor Baraka) as well as representatives from Prudential, Prudential Center and the Devils.
The winner of the tickets will be chosen by fans, as the eight finalists will be named two per month during the hockey season between November 2016 and February 2017. The event was kicked off when it was announced on October 22 at the home game when the Devils took on the Minnesota Wild.
My take on this is that it is a great way to give recognition to people who really do some good in Newark. The city has had some problems in the last few decades, to say the least, but you can see some changes facilitated by the opening of the Prudential Center and the arrival in the city of the Devils. Newark will never be as glamourous as New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles or many of the other cities throughout the NHL, but it is getting some help and these are the kind of people who are working to give it that help.
It is also a good way to tie in with Newark’s year-long celebration of its 350th anniversary. Highlighting the good things about the city and the people who are making a difference there is a fantastic way to work with that initiative.