Old Bridge Hoops Academy scores with Tufaro Foundation fundraiser and visit from Mayor Henry

Township mayor Owen Henry delivered a special message to participants at the Old Bridge Hoops Academy’s third annual 3-on-3 tournament and back-to-school picnic, which benefited The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.

Henry made time in his frenetic schedule to address the nearly 80 youth basketball players who took part in Saturday’s event at Geick Park, talking with the girls and boys in grades 3 through 12 about the important role sports played in his life and how being part of a team and competing in athletics can benefit theirs.

Ian Daley, director of the Old Bridge Hoops Academy, told the young competitors their involvement in the 3-on-3 tournament transcended the basketball court because all money from the $10 per player registration fee plus other donations directly benefited The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.

Established less than 14 months ago in loving memory of Marisa Tufaro, who died last year at the age of 13 following complications from a heart transplant, the foundation, whose mission is to help children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area, has made a profound impact.

Through the benevolence of others – such as the Old Bridge Hoops Academy and all who volunteered and participated in Saturday’s event – the nonprofit has already donated nearly $50,000 and spearheaded multiple community initiatives to help pediatric patients and others in need.

Marisa’s parents, Greg, a sports writer for the Home News Tribune, and Cyndi, an Edison Township Public Schools educator, established the foundation to keep alive their daughter’s indomitable spirit and give back to a community that long provided their family with overwhelming support.

“The Old Bridge Hoops Academy ran an amazing event,” said Cyndi Tufaro, who the academy’s leadership presented with a bouquet of flowers and an oversized check bearing the amount of $1,500, which the academy raised for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation through its incredible efforts.

“I was thoroughly impressed with the Old Bridge Hoops Academy’s commitment to helping those in their community and the remarkable planning and execution of all involved with their event. It’s impossible to find the right words to express our foundation’s gratitude for everything they did to honor Marisa and donate to our nonprofit so that we can continue to help children in need.”

The double-elimination tournament was contested in a bracket-style format with each team playing at least two games. The tournament field was broken into four divisions, one each for boys and girls. They were Little Ballers (grades 3-4), Junior Ballers (grades 5-6), Future Ballers (grades 7-8) and Ballers (grades 9-12).

Awards were presented at the conclusion of the event, which included fun challenges and prizes. The Old Bridge Hoops Academy prepared and served free food and beverages to all in attendance. A disc jockey – DJ MG – added to the festive atmosphere, which included simultaneous action on four adjacent courts.

The annual back-to-school picnic and 3-on-3 tournament is made possible through the support of a dedicated group of volunteers from the Old Bridge Hoops Academy, who assisted with registering teams and players, officiating games, monitoring the park, decorating and setting up the picnic grove, grilling food and cleaning up after the event.

“Attaching a cause such as this to our annual back-to-school picnic and 3-on-3 tournament is a great way to give back to our community and support a worthwhile endeavor,” Daley said of his own tax-exempt nonprofit selecting The Marisa Tufaro Foundation as the beneficiary of this year’s event.

Bagel Boy of Old Bridge, Advanced Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of Red Bank, Jersey Shore BBQ and Catering of East Brunswick, The Shoppes at Old Bridge, All-Star Family Orthodontics of Old Bridge, Ivy Masters Learning Center of Old Bridge, Evan’s Restaurant of Matawan, Grana Pizza Cafe of Matawan and Solepack were among the sponsors who helped make the Old Bridge Hoops Academy’s event a success.

All of the tournament participants received from The Marisa Tufaro Foundation a complimentary commemorative T-shirt, which Prestige Imaging of Old Bridge sponsored.

The official colors of the Old Bridge Hoops Academy and The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, coincidentally, are purple and white, the colors which adorned the T-shirts, the courts and decorations at the picnic area in Geick Park on Saturday. Marisa’s favorite color was purple.

Born with a complex cardiac defect, Marisa survived six open-heart surgeries. Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctor’s appointments, Marisa lived a vibrant life that inspired.

The Old Bridge Hoops Academy’s mission is to teach, inspire, motivate and cultivate future champions on and off the court through the delivery of an aligned, consistent and systematic youth development feeder program designed to ensure student-athletes’ needs are met at every level of programming.

The academy strives to instill values of hard work, pride, passion and commitment in young boys and girls who endeavor to play basketball in middle school, high school and beyond. A strong team of volunteers brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the area of youth development basketball to the academy. All believe turning dreams into reality requires teamwork and commitment.

Following are some of the way The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has helped others in need since the nonprofit was established less than 14 months ago (please click on any of the hot links to read in detail about each endeavor).

Partnered with Old Bridge and South Brunswick high schools to collect thousands of toys for pediatric patients at Saint Peter’s University Children’s Hospital and Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital.

Funded the purchase of brand new metal bunk beds for campers at Kiddie Keep Well Camp, which serves more than 600 underserved Middlesex County children annually.

Partnered with the Kittim N. Sherrod Foundation to provide a youth football and cheerleading organization with a bilingual state-of-the art automated external defibrillator, as well as AED and cardiopulmonary resuscitation training for adult members of the organization.

Supported instruction and supplies for an art therapy program at Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital, to which the foundation also provided funds for infant mobiles and toy cars staff use to transport children to the operating room for surgery.

Provided money for equipment and supplies for students with disabilities who utilize the Lakeview School’s newly constructed aquatics center.

Conducted a boardwalk-themed Family Fun Night at Children’s Specialized Hospital, where the sights, sounds and smells of the Jersey Shore were brought to patients and their families through carnival games, food, prizes, music and more.

Partnered with Teamwork Unlimited Foundation to provide medical alert bracelets to children with autism and pediatric patients with chronic illness who receive outstanding care from Children’s Specialized Hospital, which annually serves more than 34,000 children statewide.

Partially funded the Make-A-Wish of a Middlesex County boy who is winning a battle with high-risk neuroblastoma to vacation with his family at Walt Disney World.

Provided physical therapy at Special Strides Therapeutic Riding Center and Project Walk for Middlesex County children whose families do not have health insurance or whose families’ health insurer does not cover the cost of the physical therapy.

Partnered with Edison High School and the Chamberlain College of Nursing to raise money and collect nonperishable food items to benefit Middlesex County children and their families through Hands of Hope via our foundation’s participation in the Race to Outrun Hunger.

Provided new iPads and gaming system accessories (Xbox and PS4 games, controllers, chargers) for adolescent patients at Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital.

Assisted multiple families whose children are in medical crisis, providing financial support through the payment of medical and/or personal expenses to help lessen the burden of parents who have lost wages while spending time at the hospital.

Provided summer art camp scholarships to Rutgers University’s Zimmerli Art Museum for Middlesex County elementary and middle school students.

Rewarded high school students for their community service to children with scholarships.

Provided meals and goods for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House of Central Jersey.

Provided scholarships to Greater Middlesex Conference student-athletes.

Partnered with Middlesex High School to conduct a coat drive for Middlesex County children.

Provided gift cards for pediatric patients and their families.