Christine Weltner has been a teacher for 29 years and teaches all subjects at PS 166 Q/30q. Read more about how the Future Goals Hockey Scholar program relates to her lessons. 

What do you teach and why did you become a teacher?

The New York Islanders are hosting Mental Health Awareness Night, presented by Northwell Health, on Monday, January 16 when the team takes on the Washington Capitals at UBS Arena. 

The meaning of Monday's game is to bring increased awareness to mental health resources and foster an environment that normalizes mental health care instead of stigmatizing it. Mental Health is one of four key pillars of Northwell Health and the Islanders' newest platform, #WellnessWins. This platform is centered around the importance of both physical and mental well-being and will be present throughout the rest of the season's programming.

The New York Islanders stepped up in the fight against childhood hunger on Friday morning. 

The Islanders Children's Foundation made a $25,000 donation to Island Harvest, which will supply 75 kids with meals for 36 weeks as part of the Kids Weekend Backpack Feeding Program. The program aims to provide children with food insecurity healthy and nutritious meals over the weekends, when they don't have access to school lunch and breakfast programs. 

The New York Islanders partnered with Nationwide Mortgage to host a holiday event with children in need at UBS Arena for Saturday's game.

The families, which were selected with help from the WE CARE fund were greeted by Sparky and brought to Isles Lab, where each kid received a $100 gift card to take home items of their choice from the team store, followed by dinner at Belmont Hall. The kids then got to take in the game and take a picture on the ice afterwards.

Patricia Mellas teaches Math, Science, ELA, Social Studies, Leadership, STEM, and more at Southold Elementary School. Read more about how the Future Goals Hockey Scholar program relates to her lessons.

Why did you decide to become a teacher and what do you love most about teaching? 

Heads were turning inside of Cohen Children's Medical Center on Monday afternoon as Scott Mayfield and JG Pageau wheeled around a treasure trove of toys. 

Obviously, the slime kits, stuffed animals and soccer balls would be a hit with any kid, but who was delivering the toys was what drew the attention around the hospital halls. A father holding his infant daughter's hand couldn't believe his eyes.

The New York Islanders' wives got some important holiday shopping done on Tuesday morning, as they handpicked toys for children in local hospitals at the Westbury Target.

The women broke into teams to pick out toys and gifts for a variety of different age groups, from infants to teenagers. They filled over a dozen carts with over 650 toys that will head to 11 hospitals, in Nassau, Suffolk, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island and Connecticut, including Cohen Children's Medical Center. The toy shopping, as well as the toy delivery, is supported by the Islanders Children's Foundation.

TURKEY & TRIMMINGS HOLIDAY COLLECTION

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ISLAND HARVEST AND SUPPORTED BY STOP AND SHOP

DATE: Nov. 23, 2022

TIME: 5pm  - Puck Drop

LOCATION: UBS Arena, Main Plaza underneath the display board

DONATE: Frozen turkey or 8 non-perishable food items

RECEIVE: A voucher that is redeemable for two tickets to an upcoming December game. Fans will be given a choice of 4 games to choose from. One voucher per person, while supplies last. 

The McMaster family came a long way to get to a New York Islanders game. 

That's true in the literal sense, as the McMasters travelled across an ocean and a hemisphere from their home in Australia, but it's an emotional journey, too.

On Saturday night, the UBS Arena lights will be turned lavender, as the New York Islanders hold the team's annual Hockey Fights Cancer night, supported by Northwell Health, when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Islanders will wear lavender jerseys in warmups, which can be bid on until Nov. 27 at 10 p.m. et. Fans will have their opportunity to stand up to cancer, filling out "Stand Up 2 Cancer" placards and holding them up during a TV timeout. Saturday's game will also feature a ceremonial puck drop by patients from Cohen Children's Medical Center, a Rally Against Cancer "rally towel" giveaway to all fans presented by Northwell, mystery pucks available for purchase and other activations and fundraisers.