The Marisa Tufaro Foundation received a $2,500 donation from the Greater Middlesex Conference Wrestling Coaches Association during the organization’s annual awards dinner.
Following the lead of South Plainfield High School, which hosted a charity match against Old Bridge during the 2017-18 campaign, members of the Greater Middlesex Conference wrestling community also rallied to support The Marisa Tufaro Foundation last season.
During the opening night of the conference tournament, hundreds of wrestlers and coaches throughout the league wore specially designed T-shirts in their respective school colors to heighten awareness about the foundation, whose mission is to help children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area. Proceeds from the sale of the T-shirts benefited the tax-exempt nonprofit.
“The GMC wrestling community goes to the mat for an angel” was inscribed on the back of the shirt in capital letters under the image of two wrestlers flanked by angel wings and positioned beneath a halo. The front of the shirt featured a circular logo on the left breast uniting the foundation with the conference.
The donation to The Marisa Tufaro Foundation was made to Marisa’s parents, Cyndi and Greg, during an awards dinner at the American Legion Hall in Milltown. Kristen Simms of South Brunswick designed an impressive oversized check, which Region V ranking chairman Ron Mazzola presented.
The awards ceremony honored the league’s top wrestlers and coaches, as well as others who have made contributions to the sport, including officials and members of the media. A list of honorees can be found here.
“This is a great group of guys that understand sacrifice, so to see them stepping up like this is not a surprise to me,” said Frank Noppenberger, executive director of the conference who also serves on The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s board of trustees. “In my experience of being an athletics director, wrestlers are a very unique bunch. They always take care of one another, be it their team or an opponent. It’s a very neat fraternity because wrestlers will remain friends with each other for the rest of their lives. What they are doing to honor Marisa and support the foundation is outstanding.”
Marisa’s father, Greg, a longtime sports reporter for the Home News Tribune and member of the New Jersey Wrestling Writers Association, and mother, Cyndi, a longtime Middlesex County educator, established the foundation to keep alive Marisa’s spirit and honor her memory.
Marisa died last year after complications from a heart transplant developed into a rare form of stage IV cancer, to which she succumbed following a valiant fight. Marisa was born with a complex cardiac defect that required six open-heart surgeries. Despite keeping hundreds of doctor’s appointments and being hospitalized for more than two years, Marisa lived a vibrant life that inspired.
Established less than nine months ago, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has already made a profound impact. Through the generosity of others, our nonprofit has:
- Collected 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.
- 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, toy cars staff use to transport children to the operating room for surgery and bubbles to be included in welcome bags.
- Provided money for equipment and supplies for students with disabilities who utilize the Lakeview School’s newly constructed aquatics center.
- Provided 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.
- Provided physical therapy at Special Strides Therapeutic Riding Centerand 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.
- Raised money and collected 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 meals and goods for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House of Central Jersey.
- Assisted 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.
- Conducted a coat drive for Middlesex County children.
- Provided gift cards for pediatric patients and their families.
- Provided scholarships for Middlesex County students.