FLUSHING, N.Y. (Nov. 29, 2022) – The City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) is pleased to announce that it will continue its relationship with Healthfirst, New York’s largest not-for-profit health insurer, as the Official Wellness Sponsor of the CUNY Athletic Conference.

With this extension, Healthfirst will serve as the presenting sponsor of the 2023 CUNYAC Community College Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships on Friday, Feb. 17 at BMCC, and our Senior College Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships on Friday, Feb. 24 at CCNY.
 

“We’re excited to extend our partnership with Healthfirst to further benefit the student-athlete experience,” said Interim Executive Director, Carl Christian. “We value Healthfirst’s commitment to the safety and well-being of our student-athletes and the CUNY community as a whole. We look forward to developing this relationship and identifying further opportunities for collaboration in the future.”

The two organizations formally formed an association in 2021, with Healthfirst serving as the presenting sponsor of the 2021 Community and Senior College Soccer Championships along with the 2022 CUNYAC Men’s Volleyball Championship. 
 

“Healthfirst is excited to continue our sponsorship with CUNYAC, as we build on our initial work together to empower CUNY students and student athletes to live healthier, happier, more productive lives,” said Miguel Centeno, VP, Community Engagement at Healthfirst. “Healthy minds, bodies and spirits enable the brilliance of CUNY students to shine forth – we all win when that happens.”

 
Healthfirst has been serving New Yorkers for nearly 30 years, putting its members first by working closely with healthcare providers, community leaders, and community-based organizations to provide members with access to healthcare services and resources, and to address broader social issues that can impact health and well-being. Healthfirst serves members in New York City and on Long Island, as well as in Westchester, Sullivan, Orange, and Rockland counties.
 
With Healthfirst returning as a sponsor, in turn, the CUNYAC will continue to promote Healthfirst through various mediums including digital signage at its annual championships, website ads, along with brand awareness through social media and other publications.  
 
CUNYAC and Healthfirst are no strangers to working together, forging a relationship in 2020-21 and collaborating on our Talk About It Tuesday’s webinar series, programming provided by the conference to serve as educational resources for our student body across CUNY's 25 campuses. The installment, titled ‘Improving My Mental Health and Wellness,’ featured Dr. Jin Yee Yoon-Hudman, Healthfirst AVP Medical Director, Robert Cortes, Assistant Director of Outreach at BMCC, and Dr. Gerard Bryant, Director of Counseling Services and Faculty Athletics Representative at John Jay.
 
About Healthfirst
Healthfirst is the largest not-for-profit health insurer in New York State, earning the trust of 1.8 million members by ensuring access to affordable and high-quality healthcare. Sponsored by downstate New York’s leading hospital systems, Healthfirst’s unique advantage is rooted in its mission to put members first by partnering closely with its broad network of providers on shared goals. Healthfirst is also a pioneer of the value-based care model, now recognized as a national best practice.  For nearly 30 years, Healthfirst has worked with its network of hospital systems, community providers, and partners to improve health outcomes and advance health equity through better access to care—especially in underserved communities adversely impacted by disease, health disparities and socioeconomic barriers to optimal health. Healthfirst has built its reputation in the community for top-quality products and services New Yorkers can depend on. It offers market-leading products to fit every life stage, including Medicaid plans, Medicare Advantage plans, Long-Term Care plans, Qualified Health plans, Essential Plans and individual and small group plans. Healthfirst serves members in New York City and on Long Island, as well as in Westchester, Rockland, Sullivan, and Orange counties. For more information on Healthfirst, please visit healthfirst.org.