The superintendent of schools for the district whose high school loses a match Wednesday night between the South Plainfield and Old Bridge varsity wrestling teams will have to kiss a pig.
Old Bridge Schools Superintendent David Cittadino issued the aforementioned challenge to counterpart Noreen Lishak of South Plainfield, whose nationally-ranked team is a prohibitive favorite to win the dual meet.
Cittadino issued the challenge on Twitter, stating that every $50 raised for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation adds another five seconds to the length of the kiss, which will take place in the middle of the mat.
The dual meet between the schools is being conducted for the second straight year as a fundraiser for the tax-exempt nonprofit and to celebrate the life of Marisa Tufaro, who died at the age of 13 on January 30, 2017.
Donations for the foundation will be accepted at the door prior to Wednesday night’s dual meet, which commences at 6 p.m. in the Old Bridge High School gymnasium.
Established less than 18 months ago to benefit pediatric patients and children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has already made a profound impact, donating more than $60,000 and spearheading multiple community initiatives, as well as awarding college scholarship dollars to exceptional high school students who advance the nonprofit’s mission.
South Plainfield and Old Bridge have played pivotal roles, along with countless other high school athletics programs across Middlesex County, in supporting The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.
Old Bridge hosted a wildly successful toy drive during a “Holiday Knight” themed 2017 football game that collected thousands of toys for donation to Bristol-Myers Squibb Children Hospital and Saint Peter’s University Children’s Hospital. Cittadino actually brought a live reindeer to that event.
South Plainfield hosted last year’s wrestling dual meet with Old Bridge. The event raised nearly $4,000 for the foundation. Cittadino wanted to spice up the second annual charity match.
“When I heard about the fundraiser at the Old Bridge versus South Plainfield wrestling event, I thought to myself, ‘How can we fill the seats and entice those in attendance to contribute more to the Marisa Tufaro Foundation?’” Cittadino said. “I was going to challenge South Plainfield Superintendent Dr. Noreen Lishak to a wrestle off. However, she has been a friend of mine for many years since we both worked for the City of Elizabeth Schools, and frankly, I am afraid she would win and embarrass me. So, I decided the ‘kiss a pig’ challenge would allow me to save my dignity while we all help support a favorite cause on a very special day.”
Members of the South Plainfield and Old Bridge wrestling communities have purchased specially designed T-shirts in their respective school colors to heighten awareness about the foundation.
“The GMC wrestling community goes to the mat for an angel” is 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 bears a circular logo on the left breast uniting the foundation with the conference.
An individual Outstanding Wrestler trophy, courtesy of Ron Mazzola and Prestige Imaging, will be awarded to the top performer from each team at the conclusion of the dual meet.
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s leadership will make a special presentation to the head coaches of both high school wrestling programs.
Volunteers from The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, including Cyndi and Greg Tufaro, will be in attendance to distribute “thank you” letters and complimentary foundation wristbands to spectators.
Marisa, who would have been a sophomore this year at Edison High School, was born with hypoplastic left-heart syndrome, a complex cardiac defect which required six open-heart surgeries. She developed two life-threatening conditions that necessitated a heart transplant. The transplant was supposed to extend her life, but tragically cut it short when a postoperative complication developed into a rare form of blood cancer to which Marisa succumbed. Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctor’s appointments, Marisa lived a vibrant life that inspired.
Following are hot links to stories detailing some of the ways The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has assisted pediatric patients and other children in need.
- Partnered with the Middlesex County Association of School Administrators to offer financial relief to parents of children in medical crisis who lost wages while caring for their child at the hospital, who lack health insurance or whose provider won’t cover certain medical expenses.
- Partnered with Woodbridge High School and the Central Jersey bowling community to deliver hundreds of toys to pediatric patients at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, where Marisa underwent a successful heart transplant.
- Donated to Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital’s newly established extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program, a specialized cardiac and respiratory support system that saved Marisa’s life at another medical facility following her heart transplant (press release pending).
- Made a donation in honor of Piscataway’s Conackamack Middle School, which honored Marisa during its 27th annual Turkey Trot, to the township’s FISH Hospitality Program, which provides shelter, meals, clothing and other services to homeless families in Middlesex County.
- Paid forward the generosity Bishop Ahr High School has bestowed upon our foundation with a donation to the school-community’s 21st annual Ahr Star spaghetti dinner, whose beneficiaries included a 9-year-old boy from Middlesex County with multiple disabilities.
- Funded the purchase of uniforms (shirts and shorts) for campers at Kiddie Keep Well Camp, which serves more than 600 underserved Middlesex County children annually (press release pending).
- 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.
- 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 our 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.
- Funded the purchase of brand new metal bunk beds and for campers at Kiddie Keep Well Camp, which serves more than 600 underserved Middlesex County children annually.
- 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 for two consecutive years 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.
- 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 whose academic performance reflects Marisa’s educational success and whose charitable endeavors align with our foundation’s mission.
- Partnered with Middlesex High School to conduct a coat drive for Middlesex County children.
- Provided gift cards for pediatric patients and their families.
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