For the spirit they bring to the school-community, members of Woodbridge High School’s cheer and dance program are known as Spirit Leaders.
The cheerleaders and dancers, however, should also be known for their giving spirit, as they have a tradition of giving back to the community.
“They don’t just stand on the sidelines and cheer,” Woodbridge cheer coach Tori DePinto said. “They’re involved and always willing to help give back. They are always doing volunteer hours and community service for many clubs and cheer as well. They are always going that extra mile.”
The giving spirit will continue with a charity car wash and accompanying food drive the Spirit Leaders are conducting at the high school on Aug. 12 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. (rain date Aug. 15).
All proceeds from this year’s car wash will benefit the Woodbridge Animal Shelter and all collected nonperishable food items will be donated to The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, which assists children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.
The Woodbridge Spirit Leaders select a new cause each year as the beneficiary of the annual car wash.
DePinto said the cheerleaders and dancers added The Marisa Tufaro Foundation to this year’s event after participating in the nonprofit’s Tournament of Roses Parade Charity Walk and Food Drive last month.
More than 30 members of the cheer and dance program, who Jersey Mike’s Subs of Woodbridge sponsored, attended the charity walk and food drive.
Woodbridge’s cheerleading squad performs as well in competition as it does in the community.
The Barrons won five Greater Middlesex Conference titles during a six-year stretch from 2015 through 2020.
The cheer program also claimed New Jersey state titles in 2015, 2020 and 2021 and won a National Cheerleaders Association National Championship in 2016.
“We’ve been very successful on a county, state and national level,” Woodbridge High School Athletics Director Joe Ward said. “We have a very strong cheerleading program.”
Woodbridge cheerleaders also have a tradition of spreading school spirit beyond the confines of their campus.
“Our cheerleading program has always been about being committed to working hard and doing the right thing and being involved and giving back to the community,” Ward said. “That’s been the case for the past seven or eight years.”
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The entire Woodbridge school-community is among The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s biggest supporters.
Since its inception five years ago, the nonprofit has donated a quarter of a million dollars to fulfill its mission.
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has also donated thousands of toys, nonperishable food items, winter jackets, baby supplies and other items upon which it has placed no monetary value.
The nonprofit has awarded $26,500 in academic scholarships to 38 Middlesex County high school graduates.
A Woodbridge alumnus or alumna has earned a Marisa Tufaro Memorial Community Service Scholarship each of the past five years including Jordan Cinelli (’18), who currently serves as an assistant cheerleading coach at her alma mater.
Marisa Tufaro, who would have graduated last year from Edison High School, survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant before succumbing to a rare form of cancer in 2017 following a valiant battle.
Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctor’s appointments, Marisa was an honor roll student involved in myriad extracurricular activities who lived a vibrant life that inspired.
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation is eternally grateful for the support it has received from Woodbridge High School, which has hosted the Greater Middlesex Conference All-Star basketball doubleheader, the Tecmo Bowl for Tufaro, a Pictures with Santa event, and sponsored the Marisa Tufaro Classic bowling tournament as fundraisers.
In addition, the school community has donated money raised from a dress down day and the entire gate from its football team’s 2018 and 2019 home openers to the nonprofit.
Countless student-athletes from multiple sports have participated in other fundraising events that benefited The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.
The high school also fully funds an annual Marisa Tufaro Memorial Woodbridge High School Scholarship, awarded each year in Marisa’s honor and memory to two exceptional college-bound seniors.