Hackensack Meridian Health Honorees Recognized among NJBIZ’s Next Generation of Leaders

Hackensack Meridian Health is pleased to announce Eli Manning, Hackensack Meridian Health Board of Trustees member and Captain of Tackle Kids Cancer, and Kyle Tafuri, director of sustainability for Hackensack Meridian Health, have been recognized on the NJBIZ Next Generation of Leaders list.

“Through their commitment to our mission and innovative leadership in our industry, Eli Manning and Kyle Tafuri have a proven track record of impactful, positive change, said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, chief executive officer of Hackensack Meridian Health. “We are fortunate to have each of them on the Hackensack Meridian Health team, and I look forward to their continued contributions to our network and the communities we serve.”

Retired New York Giants Quarterback Eli Manning is a two-time Super Bowl Champion, two-time Super Bowl MVP and the 2016 Walter Payton Man of the Year. In September 2021, Mr. Manning joined the Hackensack Meridian Health Board of Trustees.

In 2015, Mr. Manning began a partnership with Tackle Kids Cancer, a philanthropic initiative of Hackensack Meridian Health, to raise funds for pediatric cancer research and patient care. Tackle Kids Cancer supports patient programs and initiatives at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center and the K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

In addition to helping to raise more than $20 million for Tackle Kids Cancer, Mr. Manning regularly visits with young patients. His commitment inspired other organizations to support these efforts, leading to the creation of National Tackle Kids Cancer Day, which is observed annually on September 15 to help fund critical research and innovative patient programs.

As director of sustainability for Hackensack Meridian Health, Kyle Tafuri leads development and management of corporate sustainability in areas including infrastructure upgrades for energy efficiency, green building, nutrition, purchasing and safer chemicals. He is active on several industry councils and advisory boards including the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Better Buildings Healthcare Steering Committee, Health Care Without Harm Climate Council, the Safer Chemicals Market Transformation Group, the Healthier Foods Market Transformation Group and the Global Electronics Council.

As part of Hackensack Meridian Health’s response to COVID-19, Mr. Tafuri served as section chief for Logistics at Hackensack University Medical Center. He also serves as the network’s administrative lead, supporting the National Cancer Institute-approved Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Consortium. In addition, Mr. Tafuri supports several more network initiatives, including Hackensack Meridian Health’s Keeping America Safe program, which helps New Jersey businesses navigate best practices as the pandemic evolves, the Reimagining Hackensack Meridian Health initiative, a purpose-driven organizational transformation, and the annual Hackensack Meridian Health Leadership Summit. In 2021, Mr. Tafuri was recognized on the NJBIZ Forty Under 40 List.

The NJBIZ Next Generation of Leaders list can be viewed here.