Valley Health System and Westfield Garden State Plaza Team Up in Yearlong Partnership to Promote a Healthy Lifestyle

PARAMUS, N.J., April 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Westfield Garden State Plaza and Valley Health System kick off a dynamic yearlong partnership designed to promote community health and wellness through engaging events and thought-provoking messaging. Leveraging the center's two million-plus square feet of premium retail space and Valley's influence as a leading health provider, the partnership will "deliver a message to our community that lifestyle, diet and well-being are important to living a healthy life," said Bryan Gaus, Senior General Manager, Westfield Garden State Plaza.

In conjunction with Westfield Garden State Plaza, Valley Health System will host two community-wide events at the Paramus-based center and utilize its large format signage, particularly the digital LED screen, to display compelling content throughout the year. "This is an exciting partnership and we are delighted to provide a platform to support community wellness through engaging events and experiences at Westfield Garden State Plaza," continued Gaus.

"We are delighted to partner with Westfield Garden State Plaza on this important community health initiative," said Audrey Meyers, President and CEO of The Valley Hospital and Valley Health System.  "The mall is a gathering place for so many in our community that it seems like the perfect place to offer innovative health-related educational events and programs."

The first event, "Recipe Makeover & A New Look For the Cook," launches April 1, in partnership with Sur La Table and features an online enter-to-win sweepstakes. Customers are invited to submit the name of a favorite dish, at www.valleyrecipemakeover.com, for a nutritional makeover. On May 17, two winners, sporting their own new makeovers, will cook their healthier dishes in front of a live audience with celebrity chef Michael V. Proietti in the Lord & Taylor Court. Compliments of Westfield Garden State Plaza retailers, the winners' "new looks" include a makeover and new apparel. A second event will be held in October and details will be released later this year.

"Sur La Table is excited to be working with Westfield Garden State Plaza on this upcoming cooking demonstration featuring Proietti, the resident chef of our Westchester store," said Aysar Rida, District Manager of Sur La Table, retailer of exclusive and premium-quality goods for the kitchen and table. "With cooking classes in more than 50 locations, Sur La Table operates the largest avocational cooking school nationwide."

About Westfield Garden State Plaza
Westfield Garden State Plaza is the ultimate destination for fashion, dining and entertainment in the NY/NJ metro area offering the best selection of brands in every retail category, and is renowned for delivering cutting edge, new retail concepts to market.  Just minutes from Manhattan in Paramus, N.J., millions of shoppers each year enjoy an unparalleled shopping and dining experience, complete with personalized services and amenities.  For more information, call 201-843-2121 or www.facebook.com/gardenstateplaza or www.westfield.com/gardenstateplaza.

The Westfield Group (ASX Code: WDC) is an internally managed, vertically integrated, shopping center group undertaking ownership, development, design, construction, funds/asset management, property management, leasing and marketing activities and employing approximately 4,000 staff worldwide.  The Westfield Group has interests in and operates one of the world's largest shopping center portfolios with investment interests in 91 shopping centers across Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and New Zealand, encompassing over 20,500 retail outlets and total assets under management of A$65.8bn.

About Valley Health System
Valley Health System is a regional healthcare system that serves residents in northern New Jersey and southern New York.  It includes The Valley Hospital, a 451-bed, not-for-profit, acute-care hospital; Valley Home Care, an award-winning home care and hospice agency; and Valley Medical Group, a multispecialty group practice of doctors and advanced practice professionals representing more than 30 medical and surgical specialties who practice at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, Valley's Blumenthal Cancer Center in Paramus, eight urgent and primary care centers in New Jersey and New York, and community-based physician practices throughout the region. 

For more information visit www.ValleyHealth.com or www.Facebook.com/ValleyHospital

About Sur La Table
Since its beginnings in Seattle's Pike Place Market in 1972, Sur La Table has believed that the kitchen is the center of the home. Today, those with a passion for cooking and a love for food can discover a leading selection of global brands in over 115 Sur La Table stores, online at www.surlatable.com, through the Sur La Table Catalog and via the Sur La Table Gift Registry. With cooking classes in over 50 locations, Sur La Table operates the largest avocational cooking school nationwide. From essential basics to hard-to-find specialty tools and cookware, Sur La Table is sure to have something for every cook.

Photo Caption: Westfield Garden State Plaza and Valley Health System have kicked off a dynamic yearlong partnership designed to promote community health and wellness through engaging events and thought-provoking messaging. Shown here (left to right): are Bryan Gaus, Senior General Manager, Westfield Garden State Plaza; Audrey Meyers, President and CEO The Valley Hospital and Valley Health System; and William Conroy, Deputy Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Health.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140401/NY95549

For Valley:
Maureen Curran Kleinman
201-291-6310
[email protected]

SOURCE Westfield Garden State Plaza