The Jets have hired Rex Ryan this off-season to lead an aggressive gameplan on the field. "We're not going to 'read and react.' That's for somebody else," said Ryan. "We're going to be attacking from the whistle. We're going to turn the heat up."
Off the field, the Jets have adopted the same philosophy, teaming up with A&P for the seventh annual New York Jets Taste of the NFL Benefit. The benefit, designed to fight hunger, has raised $835,000 since 2003.
"A&P is proud to partner with a team dedicated to excellence and helping others," said Rebecca Philbert, A&P senior vice president, merchandising and supply & logistics. "We also strive to provide the best for our customers and our communities, especially in the fight against hunger."
The benefit will be held on Tuesday, May 5, from 7-9 p.m. at Cipriani's Wall Street. Tickets are $250 and proceeds will benefit the New York Jets Foundation. Special VIP tickets are available in limited quantities for $400. These tickets provide early admission, special access to Jets players and an extra hour of food sampling beginning at 6 p.m.
The benefit is an exciting star-studded culinary event packed with food, wine, fun and football. This year's lineup of players is led by Nick Mangold, Darrelle Revis and Leon Washington, while restaurants including NOBU, Tao and Blue Smoke will be present. The event is set up in a "taste-around" style where party attendees are invited to mingle with past and present Jets football stars and sample delectable dishes of distinguished chefs.
"A&P is the ideal partner for us in our fight against hunger," said Matt Higgins, the Jets' executive vice president of business operations. "This event has earned more than three quarters of a million dollars to fight hunger in our local communities, and with the help of A&P we are looking to go beyond the million dollar mark this year."
About A&P
Founded in 1859, A&P is one of the nation's first supermarket chains. The company operates 444 stores in eight states and the District of Columbia under the following trade names: A&P, Waldbaum's, Pathmark, Best Cellars, The Food Emporium, Super Foodmart, Super Fresh and Food Basics.
About Taste of the NFL
Taste of the NFL is the Party With a Purpose. The purpose is to raise awareness and dollars in the fight against hunger for thousands of families who struggle every day to simply feed their children. The nation's finest chefs as well as NFL legends, both past and present, volunteer their time along with the best community citizens in dozens of cities, the Super Bowl Host committees and the NFL in support of hunger relief efforts throughout the country and in the host communities. The Jets are the top NFL team in local fundraising for Taste of the NFL, raising $835,000 during the last six events.
About the New York Jets Foundation
The New York Jets take great pride in playing an active role in making a year-round commitment to our community. Programs funded by the New York Jets Foundation touch the lives of countless young men and women in the tri-state area. Over the past nine years, the Jets and their charitable foundation have donated or contributed more than $9 million to promote youth health, fitness and education, particularly in disadvantaged communities.
From fighting childhood obesity through the Generation Jets: Be Lean & Green initiative to launching a football team in a Harlem high school, urging students to eat right and move more, and supporting the efforts of the Alliance for Lupus Research, the New York Jets invest in programs that make a difference in the lives of others. In addition to the Jets Foundation, which supports our own extensive youth initiatives, the Jets partner with numerous established charitable organizations and participate in causes sponsored by the NFL.
Contributions to the New York Jets Foundation are deductible for federal income tax purposes to the extent provided by law. For more information about the New York Jets Taste of the NFL Benefit, please visit www.newyorkjets.com/taste or call 1-973-549-4654 to purchase tickets.
