Swimmers and coaches participating in an annual fundraiser benefiting The Marisa Tufaro Foundation enter the event knowing some background about the nonprofit’s namesake.

But Mother Seton head coach Carolyn DeMaio had a personal connection through her daughter Cara, who was a classmate of Marisa at James Monroe Elementary and Herbert Hoover Middle School in Edison.

Born with a complex cardiac defect, Marisa survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant before succumbing to a rare form of cancer at the age of 13 in 2017 following a valiant battle. Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctors’ appointments, Marisa was an honor roll student involved in myriad extracurricular activities who lived a vibrant life that inspired.

“I remember Cara telling us about Marisa in kindergarten and watching her journey,” Carolyn DeMaio recalled. “It was always inspiring to me because Marisa always had a smile on her face. I loved watching her in the (school) plays. She was like the star of the show. We still talk about her and it’s just so nice to be a part of this and be able to remember Marisa and have the (Greater Middlesex Conference swimming community) give back in her memory.”

Please click HERE to view a photo gallery from the event

The Marisa Tufaro Foundation uses all proceeds from the event, which has raised more than $27,000 since its inception in 2018, to fulfill its mission of assisting pediatric patients and other children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.

This year’s “Practice for a Purpose” was held Saturday at North Brunswick High School, where swimmers from 11 teams became “Marisa’s Minnows,” pooling their resources to make a splash for the nonprofit.

East Brunswick, Metuchen, J.P. Stevens, Old Bridge, Perth Amboy, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Sayreville, South Brunswick, and South Plainfield also joined host North Brunswick in the event, which Raiders’ head coach CarrieAnn Egan-Ragavas organized.

Please click HERE to watch video highlights from the event

“It’s such a proud moment for North Brunswick as a whole to be able to bring the community together,” Egan-Ragavas said. “All these teams are keeping alive the memory of Marisa, and we are just really proud to be able to continue swimming under Marisa’s name as her minnows.”

The “Marisa’s Minnows” slogan that the conference swimming community adopted for its fundraiser is more than just a literary device.

The clever use of alliteration is apropos as the carefully chosen words reflect what transpires in the pool, where competitors from rival programs swim together, as minnows will in large shoals, for a common cause.

Several of Marisa Tufaro’s former classmates – she would have graduated from Edison High School in 2021 – including Cara DeMaio have participated as “Marisa’s Minnows” in previous “Practice for a Purpose” events.

“Today means a lot to our program,” Sayreville head coach Andrew Rice said. “It’s really a way we can give back to the community through the foundation. We are always really excited to help and do whatever we can because we know (money raised) goes directly to kids in need.”

Established in its namesake’s loving memory six years ago, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has donated more than $300,000 to fulfill its mission.

The nonprofit has also spearheaded multiple initiatives resulting in the collection of thousands of toys, nonperishable food items, winter coats, baby supplies, school supplies, and other items for donation upon which it has placed no monetary value.

In addition, the foundation has awarded 42 college academic scholarships totaling $29,500 in Marisa’s name to high school seniors and granted 20 scholarships for elementary and middle school students to attend a weeklong summer art camp at Rutgers University’s Zimmerli Art Museum.

Former conference swimmers Emma and Alexis Broggi of Piscataway, Libby Dobrzynski of Sayreville, George Wenson of Woodbridge, and Caroline Schleif of Metuchen are among The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s scholarship recipients.

During “Practice for a Purpose,” teams are assigned lanes and pool times with each using its opportunity in the water to either conduct a formal practice, to work on different strokes, to increase stamina, to pair with opposing swimmers, or to simply have fun in the season-opening event. Saturday’s participants collectively swam inordinate miles of laps, all in support of children in need.

“It’s important for us to show the kids that it’s important to help the community,” said J.P. Stevens head coach Ana Mendez, who brought more than 40 swimmers from her program to the event. “It’s important that they get involved in helping others and showing their support outside the school and around the community.”

The annual fundraiser is also a way to build camaraderie among a swimming community that already shares a unique sense of solidarity through the sport’s very nature.

“It’s great to see all the different schools in the GMC come together to be able to support a good cause, and at the end of the day it shows that we are all here for one reason,” J.P. Stevens assistant coach Kristen Vladyka said. “These young (swimmers) find fun in a competitive environment and come together through this wonderful event to raise money for a great cause.”

Saint Thomas Aquinas head coach Amanda Miller, whose school is among those conference-wide renown for community service, noted that through storytelling on its website, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation clearly delineates how fundraised dollars assist pediatric patients and other children in need.

“The foundation is something that the student-athletes can identify with,” Miller explained. “It gives them a motivation to provide service to the community, which is something that we teach, but we want it to be ingrained, and this gives them the opportunity to come together as individuals and do this on their own. The end result is something really magical.”

Greater Middlesex Conference Executive Director Frank Noppenberger, who serves on The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s board of trustees, said he continues to be impressed with the swimmers and coaches who remain committed to the cause.

“What’s most impressive to me is all the kids and coaches who come out to pay it forward,” Noppenberger said. “The kids understand ‘Practice for a Purpose’ is for a good cause. Along with that, you see teams bonding in a non-competitive atmosphere, which I think is the first step in developing great sportsmanship.”

State Senator Patrick Diegnan, who is also a member of The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s board of trustees, said, “by its nature, sports are competitive, and this event proves that young people, in particular, will always join together for a common cause and do what is right.

“We should celebrate their participation in this outstanding event.”