The*New York Jets and *M&T Bank announced a new, multi-year partnership naming M&T the "Official Community Bank of the New York Jets" and establishing several initiatives that will extend far beyond the field and into the surrounding community.
M&T Bank will be the exclusive provider of New York Jets branded debit cards at 781 retail branches, including more than 150 M&T branches across the New York Tri-State (N.Y.-N.J.-Conn.) region. In addition, the partnership will support youth football, power the New York Jets Generation Jets Kids Club and highlight the importance of small businesses in local economies.
"As we've grown in the New York Tri-State region, we've built great relationships with our customers and communities. The New York Jets share a similar commitment to our neighbors throughout the region, and to Jets fans everywhere, and we embrace this opportunity to combine the strengths of both organizations in working together to support our communities," said M&T Bank Vice Chairman Richard Gold.
"The New York Jets are extremely proud to collaborate with an industry leader like M&T Bank that shares our values of community," said New York Jets President Neil Glat. "We look forward to working together to strengthen our community programs that are designed to help improve the lives of our neighbors and surrounding communities."
Official Community Bank sponsored programs supported by M&T Bank will include the following:
Supporting Youth FootballM&T Bank will be the presenting sponsor of the Jets Play Football partnership with the North Jersey Pop Warner football league in Northern New Jersey. The bank will also be the presenting sponsor of the New York Jets/USA Football Parents Clinic and plans to work with the team to promote fun and safe experiences for youth football players.
To kickoff this initiative, the bank today will host more than 30 players from the North Jersey Pop Warner football organization for a clinic at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. The clinic will provide opportunities for youth players to learn football fundamentals from New York Jets players.
Generation Jets Kids ClubM&T will be the presenting partner for the GenJets Kids Club, a program offering one-of-a-kind experiences and events for children ages 4 to 12. This includes opportunities for game day experiences, such as participating in the kids' tunnel welcoming the Jets to the field and serving as the GenJets Tee Kid during the game. To launch the program for the 2017 season, M&T and the Jets will select a North Jersey Pop Warner player to serve as GenJets Tee Kid during the September 24 home opener against the Miami Dolphins.
Small Business ShowcaseThe Jets and M&T will join forces to create a new "small business showcase" highlighting the importance of small business to local economies across the region. The showcase will give participating small businesses an opportunity to showcase their business and pitch why they deserve the chance to receive season-long sponsorship rights to the New York Jets, which one select company will receive.
"As one of the largest small business lenders throughout the New York Tri-State region, we understand the role small businesses play in creating jobs and providing economic activity in their neighborhoods. We look forward to working with the Jets to highlight the hard-working small businesses in our communities," said Eleni Monios, M&T group vice president for business banking in New York City and New Jersey.
M&T will also receive traditional sponsorship benefits, including branding exposure through stadium signage and media advertising during Jets game broadcasts and other social media, digital media, television and radio programs.
To celebrate the partnership, M&T Bank will provide all fans attending the September 24th home opener with a New York Jets flag. Fans will also be able to receive a complimentary New York Jets car magnet, while supplies last, at all M&T Bank branches across the Tri-State region beginning September 25.
M&T also becomes the presenting partner for New York Jets Training Camp in Florham Park beginning in the summer of 2018.
