The Marisa Tufaro Foundation would like to extend its since gratitude and deep appreciation to Woodbridge High School for its decision to donate the gate from Thursday’s season-opening football game to our tax-exempt nonprofit.
Woodbridge High School has been among our foundation’s biggest and most loyal supporters.
The high school fully funds in Marisa’s honor and memory the Woodbridge High School Marisa Tufaro Memorial Scholarship, awarded annually to two exceptional Woodbridge seniors who strive for excellence academically, athletically or in the arts, who overcame adversity (not limited to medical challenges) and who epitomize the caring spirit that the Tufaro family believes makes the Woodbridge school-community special.
Each of the past two seasons, Woodbridge has donated its facilities and volunteered its staff to host the Greater Middlesex Conference All-Star girls and boys basketball games, with all proceeds from the doubleheader benefiting our foundation. Earlier this year, Woodbridge hosted the Tecmo Bowl for Tufaro, a retro football video game tournament which raised money for our nonprofit.
Woodbridge student-athletes have participated in other events that benefited our foundation. Donations from administrators, faculty, staff, students and their parents have enabled our nonprofit to fulfill its mission.
Since its inception 13 months ago, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has already made a profound impact on pediatric patients and other Middlesex County children in need, donating close to $50,000 and spearheading several community initiatives. Some of the ways our nonprofit has made an impact are detailed below and in the accompanying video.
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation was founded in loving memory of its namesake, who died last year at the age of 13 following complications from a heart transplant. She had the pleasure of meeting Principal Glenn Lottmann and Athletics Director Joe Ward just weeks before her transplant. 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.
Marisa’s parents, Greg, a sports writer for the Home News Tribune, and Cyndi, a Middlesex County educator, were honored to bestow two of our foundation’s own scholarships to recently graduated Woodbridge High School seniors. Jordan Cinelli was recipient of the Marisa Tufaro Memorial Community Service Scholarship, while classmate Charity-Temitope Daramola received the Marisa Tufaro Greater Middlesex Conference Student-Athlete Scholarship.
Considering the character of Woodbridge students, it came as no surprise to our foundation’s scholarship selection committees and leadership that Jordan and Charity were winners of those prestigious grants.
We have witnessed firsthand – whether it be through a St. Baldrick’s fundraiser for childhood cancer, multiple Barrons for Ben benefits, Hats for Harvey or supporting Go for the Goal – your school’s exemplary desire and gifted ability to work together to help others.
May your kindness and benevolence be exponentially returned.
Following are some of the ways in which The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has impacted children in need (please click on the links to read in detail about each initiative) …
- 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.