As he prepares to retire following a distinguished career in education, Edison High School Principal Charles Ross was recently honored by those he has led for nearly two decades with pride and distinction.

In celebration of his upcoming retirement, Edison High School faculty and staff hosted a barbecue, at which donations were collected in recognition of Ross’ years of service and leadership.

Demonstrating the generosity and compassion that have defined his tenure, Ross chose to split the charitable contributions between The Marisa Tufaro Foundation and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, both of which hold a special place in his heart.

The donations reflect Ross’s longstanding commitment to helping others and supporting causes that make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families.

Ross has served as principal of Edison High School for 16 years and has spent nearly three decades in educational administration. After teaching history for six years at East Orange High School, Ross served as an assistant principal there and at East Orange Campus 9. Throughout his career, Ross has been known for fostering a strong sense of community, school pride, and service among students and staff.

Honoring Ross at the barbeque through charitable giving was a fitting tribute. Rather than receiving personal gifts, Ross ensured the contributions would help children and families facing challenges, extending the impact of the celebration far beyond the high school’s walls.

“We are incredibly grateful to Charlie and the entire Edison High School staff for their generosity and for turning a well-deserved retirement celebration into an opportunity to give back,” said Cyndi Tufaro, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s executive director. “Charlie has always been a champion for students and for helping others. This remarkably thoughtful gesture reflects the type of leader Charlie has been throughout his career and the legacy of kindness he leaves behind. We are honored that The Marisa Tufaro Foundation was selected as a beneficiary of this special tribute and extend our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Charlie on his retirement.”

In recognition of his vast contributions to the Edison school community, the Edison Elks Lodge honored Ross last month with its prestigious Grand Lodge Distinguished Citizenship Award.

In another fitting tribute to the retiring principal, this year’s graduating class erected a street sign reading “Charles K. Ross Way” in the school’s official colors of red and gold near the entrance to Matthew J. Drwal Stadium. An additional sign below reads “What’s Great About Edison High,” a phrase Ross coined and popularized and which became his mantra.

Under Ross’ leadership, Edison High School expanded academic opportunities, dramatically improved AP enrollment and test scores, increased involvement in extracurricular activities, boasted an award-winning school newspaper and music and dance programs, complemented its STEM program and Edison ACES program for first-generation college students with technical education, celebrated student achievement, resurrected the Athletics Hall of Fame, improved sports facilities, and strengthened a culture centered on helping others, including the pediatric patients and children in need across Middlesex County that The Marisa Tufaro Foundation serves.

Since its inception in July 2017, the Edison-based nonprofit has donated $450,000 to fulfill its mission.

The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has also donated thousands of toys, nonperishable food items, winter jackets, baby supplies, children’s books, school supplies, and other items upon which it has placed no monetary value.

In addition, the foundation has awarded $42,000 in academic scholarships to 57 inspirational high school seniors (including seven from Edison) and sent 31 elementary and middle school students (including six from Edison) to a weeklong summer art camp at Rutgers University’s Zimmerli Art Museum.

In 2024, the Edison Chamber of Commerce named The Marisa Tufaro Foundation its Organization of the Year and Edison-based Hands of Hope for the Community recognized the nonprofit for its “dedicated efforts in fostering positive change within the community.” The YMCA of Metuchen-Edison-Woodbridge-South Amboy honored The Marisa Tufaro Foundation in 2023 with its prestigious Barnes Community Champion Award.

The entire Edison school-community, led by Ross, has played an enormous role in the foundation’s success and the profound impact it has been blessed and privileged to make on those it serves.

Born with a severe cardiac defect, Marisa Tufaro survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant before succumbing to a rare form of cancer in 2017 following a valiant battle. She was just 13 years old.

Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctors’ appointments, Marisa was an Edison Township Public Schools honor roll student involved in myriad extracurricular activities. She would have graduated from Edison High School in 2021.

In honor of the Class of 2021, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation made 10 separate donations of $2,021 – totaling $20,210 – in the name of Edison High School’s graduating seniors to organizations who share the nonprofit’s mission of helping Middlesex County children in need.

To help facilitate that donation, Ross created a “graduation project,” asking seniors to select beneficiaries from a menu of options the foundation provided. The selections – which included Edison-based organizations such as Hands of Hope for the Community, the Jewish Community Center of Middlesex County, Kiddie Keep Well Camp, and the Lakeview School, a program of the New Jersey Institute for Disabilities – were as varied as the Class of 2021’s diverse background. As a result of the partnership between the foundation and Ross, part of the Class of 2021’s legacy was a “gift of giving.”

Following Ross’ example, Edison High School administrators, faculty, staff, students, and their parents have made significant contributions to The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, donating to the nonprofit and volunteering at events.

Student-athletes from the high school’s football, baseball, swimming, basketball, bowling, wrestling, cheerleading, soccer, and golf teams have all participated in fundraising events benefiting the foundation.

“Our kids come together because we know Marisa is with us,” Ross previously stated.  “She’s still a part of our community and we take care of our own.”