Tackle Kids Cancer Kicks Off Third Year of Eli's Challenge

HACKENSACK, N.J. and EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Sept. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Tackle Kids Cancer and New York Giants Quarterback Eli Manning proudly announce the kick-off of this year's Eli's Challenge. In its initial launch three years ago, Super Bowl MVP Manning generously matched grassroots donations to Tackle Kids Cancer, up to $100,000. Last year, Manning matched $150,000 in donations. This year, Manning announced he will match donations up to $200,000.

Since its inception, Eli's Challenge energized the Tackle Kids Cancer community, motivating hundreds of groups to join the fight against pediatric cancer. With Manning's $100,000 match in 2016, and $150,000 match in 2017, more than $500,000 was raised to advance education, research and discovery in the search for a cure against this life-threatening disease. 

"We value our relationship with Hackensack Meridian Health and are honored to be part of Tackle Kids Cancer. The work that is done by the Children's Cancer Institute and those who have contributed to Tackle Kids Cancer has served as inspiration to Eli and all of us. We are proud of Eli's work in our community and his selfless support of the Children's Cancer Institute," said Allison Stangeby, vice president of Community and Corporate Relations, New York Giants.

Eli's Challenge has raised awareness of the urgent need to find a cure for pediatric cancer through community creative and unique fundraising efforts. Becca, a former "Most Valiant Patient" who received treatment at the Children's Cancer Institute and is now in remission, inspired her Brownie troop to raise several hundred dollars for Tackle Kids Cancer through bake sales and penny collections.

Manning, who was named the 2017 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year and volunteers his time to support Tackle Kids Cancer, was inspired through these grassroots efforts, and decided to encourage people to join the cause with his matching gift. "It is truly inspiring to see how many community groups have held bake sales, car washes and other fundraisers for this cause, and I want to challenge more of them to join our team," said Manning. 

On September 9, 2018 during the New York Giants opening day game against Jacksonville, a $500,000 check was presented to Tackle Kids Cancer on behalf of grassroots groups that took Eli's Challenge and raised funds for the cause. This check presentation kicked off the third year of Eli's Challenge as well as kicking off Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Accepting the check for Tackle Kids Cancer was Hackensack Meridian Health Co-CEO Robert C. Garrett; North Regional President and Foundation Chief Development Officer Helen Cunning; Alfred Gillio, M.D., director, Children's Cancer Institute at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center; Derek Hanson, M.D., program head of Pediatric Neuro-oncology at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center; pediatric patient Jackson and his father Paul, mother Dina; and Tackle Kids Cancer supporter, Justin Ward.

"Pediatric cancer is the number one cause of death by disease in children. Yet, only four percent of government cancer funding is allocated to pediatric research," said Garrett. "Eli's Challenge raises funds which directly benefit pediatric cancer research and patient care programs at the Children's Cancer Institute at Hackensack Meridian Health. We are so proud of our partnership with the New York Giants and Eli Manning."

Join Eli Manning today in the fight against pediatric cancer by visiting TackleKidsCancer.org/Eli.

For more information on partnering with the Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation and the New York Giants, please visit www.TackleKidsCancer.org.                                             

About Tackle Kids Cancer

Tackle Kids Cancer is a philanthropic initiative of the Children's Cancer Institute at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital at Hackensack Meridian Health Hackensack University Medical Center dedicated to finding a cure for pediatric cancer.  Funds raised support pediatric cancer research and innovative patient services.

Pediatric cancer is the number one cause of death by disease in children. The Children's Cancer Institute is the only center conducting bone marrow transplants and the only site for the new immunotherapy CAR-T treatment in New Jersey. The Children's Cancer Institute provides a growing research program, including pioneering work in neuro-oncology, and is home to Cure and Beyond, a pediatric cancer survivorship program, providing services and medical support for pediatric cancer survivors. 

Community supporters and corporate partners are dedicated to supporting the essential work toward a cure for pediatric cancer. To date, Tackle Kids Cancer has raised more than $5 million to support its mission. For additional information, please visit TackleKidsCancer.org

ABOUT HACKENSACK MERIDIAN HEALTH
Hackensack Meridian Health is a leading not-for-profit health care organization that is the largest, most comprehensive and truly integrated health care network in New Jersey, offering a complete range of medical services, innovative research and life-enhancing care.

Hackensack Meridian Health comprises 16 hospitals from Bergen to Ocean counties, which includes three academic medical centers – Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, JFK Medical Center in Edison; two children's hospitals - Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital in Hackensack, K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital in Neptune; nine community hospitals - Ocean Medical Center in Brick, Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, Mountainside Medical Center in Montclair, Palisades Medical Center in North Bergen, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Perth Amboy, Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, Bayshore Medical Center in Holmdel, Raritan Bay Medical Center in Old Bridge, and Pascack Valley Medical Center in Westwood; and two rehabilitation hospitals - JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison and Shore Rehabilitation Institute in Brick.

Additionally, the network has more than 450 patient care locations throughout the state which include ambulatory care centers, surgery centers, home health services, long-term care and assisted living communities, ambulance services, lifesaving air medical transportation, fitness and wellness centers, rehabilitation centers, urgent care centers and physician practice locations. Hackensack Meridian Health has 33,000 team members, and 6,500 physicians and is a distinguished leader in health care philanthropy, committed to the health and well-being of the communities it serves.

The network's notable distinctions include having one of only five major academic medical centers in the nation to receive Healthgrades America's 50 Best Hospitals Award for five or more consecutive years, four hospitals among the top 10 in New Jersey by U.S. News and World Report. Other honors include consistently achieving Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, recipient of the John M. Eisenberg Award for Patient Safety and Quality from The Joint Commission and the National Quality Forum, a six-time recipient of Fortune's "100 Best Companies to Work For," one of the "20 Best Workplaces in Health Care" in the nation, and the number one "Best Place to Work for Women." The network was also named to Becker's Healthcare's "150 Top Places to Work in Healthcare/2018" list.

Hackensack Meridian Health partnered with Seton Hall University to launch the first private medical school in New Jersey – Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University - in more than 50 years to address a growing shortage of physicians and dramatic changes in health care delivery. Additionally, the network partnered with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer to find more cures for cancer faster while ensuring that patients have access to the highest quality, most individualized cancer care when and where they need it. Hackensack Meridian Health and Carrier Clinic, New Jersey's oldest and most respected behavioral health provider, signed a definitive agreement to merge.

Hackensack Meridian Health is a member of AllSpire Health Partners, an interstate consortium of leading health systems, to focus on the sharing of best practices in clinical care and achieving efficiencies.

For additional information, please visit www.HackensackMeridianHealth.org.

SOURCE Hackensack Meridian Health