Of all the words three ambitious fourth-graders from Martin Luther King Elementary School in Edison authored for a flyer to promote their fundraiser for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, one phrase stood out.

“You may be small,” the flyer proclaims in part, “but you can make a big difference!”

Leo Mayzel, Mugilan Ananthu and Idris Lakdawala approached Principal Regina Arnold with their desire to help children in the community.

Mrs. Arnold offered the students her full support, provided they conducted independent research and found a worthwhile beneficiary.

The trio of students searched the internet and found a website for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, whose mission is to help children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.

After scheduling a follow-up appointment with their principal, Leo, Mugilan and Idris – laptop computer in hand – met with Mrs. Arnold and told her they wanted to raise money for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.

Their well-wrought plan involved devising a flyer for distribution to all of the elementary school’s third- through fifth-grade classes, each of which the trio visited over a two-day stretch to explain and promote their fundraising concept.

The home room that raised the most money in the weeklong contest – which wound up being that of the trio – would receive a principal-sponsored ice cream or popsicle party.

“Let’s end the 2018-2019 school year the right way by helping children in need!” the flyer read. “From Thursday, May 30th until Thursday, June 6th, we are asking for your help to raise money for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.”

A link to The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s website was contained on the flyer, along with a reader-friendly form allowing students and their parents to document donations.

Daily announcements were made during the weeklong contest, informing students about which home room was leading the fundraiser, a gimmick the trio concocted to spark competition.

“You can give a dollar or a gazillion,” the boys told students across the 16 competing home rooms.

Martin Luther King Elementary School’s fundraising efforts came closer to a “gazillion” dollars as the students’ haul of coins, cash and checks – neatly arranged in a box – weighed a whopping 13 pounds!

The outstanding collection of more than $700 was worthy of an armored truck escort to the local savings and loan.

Greg Tufaro, who established The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, along with his wife Cyndi, in loving memory of their daughter, Marisa, was privileged to meet all of the students, including Leo, Mugilan and Idris, in Amanda Ramirez’s fourth-grade classroom. He presented each with a commemorative foundation wristband and was impressed with the maturity and grace that all the students displayed.

In addition to raising money to assist pediatric patients and other children in need, the ambitious trio sparked philanthropy among classmates, several of who have already approached Mrs. Arnold with their own fundraising ideas.

From saving the turtles to donating locks of hair, Martin Luther King Elementary School students are looking for new ways to give back to the community.

Mrs. Arnold might want to spend her summer clipping coupons for ice cream and popsicles.

Sounds like she might have more fundraising parties to celebrate next year.

Following are hot links to stories detailing several of the many ways our foundation has assisted pediatric patients and other children in need since its inception on July 30, 2017.