South Plainfield head football coach Bill Hamilton, who graduated from the high school more than three decades ago, knows the school-community has a storied history of making an impact on and off the playing field.

“South Plainfield has always been a community that rallies for people and causes,” said Hamilton. “That’s one thing, even as a kid growing up, that I saw. If someone needs help with something, they can always count on the people and the kids of South Plainfield.”

The South Plainfield gridiron and cheerleading squad, coached by veteran mentor Georgeann Larsen, an alumna of the high school, will send a contingent of student-athletes to partake in The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s Tournament of Roses Parade Charity Walk and Food Drive.

The event, which takes place July 18 at Saint Joseph High School in Metuchen, serves as a community service project for recently graduated Middlesex County student-athletes participating in the Bellamy and Sons Paving Marisa Rose Bowl.

All proceeds from the intra-county all-star football game, formerly known as the Snapple Bowl and Autoland Classic, will benefit The Marisa Tufaro Foundation. The contest has raised $715,000 for charity since its inception in 1994.

Miller’s Rentals of Edison is sponsoring the Tigers participating in the charity walk and food drive.

Registration includes a commemorative Tournament of Roses Parade T-shirt, Marisa Tufaro Foundation wristband and beverages. All participants will be asked to wear their commemorative T-shirts during the walk as a show of solidarity.

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The charity walk is a two-mile stroll along the grounds of Saint Joseph’s scenic 70-acre campus to heighten awareness about childhood and family hunger.

The accompanying food drive is a collection of donations for REPLENISH, a regional food bank serving Middlesex County residents, including an estimated 30,000 children, and the Middlesex College Community Resource Hub & Food Pantry.

“Lacking sufficient food presents many challenges for everyone, but the impacts on children are particularly devastating,” said Jennifer Apostol, director of REPLENISH, whose husband, Joe, wrestled at South Plainfield, finishing second in the state at 189 pounds in 1989.

According to the New Jersey Department of Health, 1 in 10 children statewide reside in homes without consistent access to adequate food for everyone to live healthy and active lives.

“Children who face hunger are more at risk for serious health conditions like anemia, asthma, diabetes, and obesity and are more likely to be hospitalized,” Apostol said. “Children dealing with food insecurity also face academic challenges. When a child is hungry, they have difficulty focusing on their classwork, and cannot retain the information and skills necessary to flourish.”

Hamilton said he appreciates the commitment of South Plainfield players and cheerleaders to participate in the charity walk and food drive at this time of year.

“There is so much going on between our sports, other sports, families, vacation, work and everything,” Hamilton said, “so these kids taking a little time out of their already busy schedules to help out says a lot about their character.”

Hamilton and Larsen, who graduated from South Plainfield one year apart, enjoy a symbiotic relationship as football and cheerleading coaches at their alma mater. Hamilton has previously volunteered to coach in the Snapple Bowl and Larsen will be coaching in the Marisa Rose Bowl.

“The cheerleaders are a great group of kids and very supportive of everything,” Hamilton said, noting Larsen started the competition cheer program at the high school in 1999. “It’s been that way as long as I can remember. I communicate with her quite a bit, whether organizing our football and cheer night or putting things together for the kids. We have a great working relationship with each other.”

The entire South Plainfield school-community is among the biggest supporters of The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, which assists pediatric patients and underserved children throughout the greater Middlesex County area.

Since its inception less than 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 high school graduates including South Plainfield alumni Jeffrey Jacome, Nick Loniewski, Abdul Cokley, Luke Niemeyer, Joseph Heilmann, and Charles Lovett.

Marisa Rose Tufaro 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, she lived a vibrant life that inspired.

The South Plainfield High School wrestling team honors Marisa’s memory with an annual wrestling match against Old Bridge known as the Marisa Tufaro Memorial Dual, which has generated nearly $20,000 for the foundation.

Other ways in which South Plainfield student-athletes have supported The Marisa Tufaro Foundation include:

  • The swimming program’s annual participation in a county-wide fundraising swim-a-thon for the nonprofit.
  • The bowling team’s involvement in season-opening tournaments that served as fundraisers for the nonprofit and holiday toy drives for pediatric patients the foundation serves.
  • The girls soccer team’s participation in last year’s Soccer for a Cause Charity Festival benefiting The Marisa Tufaro Foundation and Go4TheGoal.
  • Golfers from the high school recently participated in the Tee Off Against Hunger as sponsored guests of The Marisa Tufaro Foundation at Top Golf in Edison.
  • Members of the boys basketball, girls basketball and baseball teams have participated in Greater Middlesex Conference-wide all-star games benefiting the foundation.