The Greater Middlesex Conference swimming community is once again pooling its resources to make a splash for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.
Hundreds of student-athletes from the conference’s high school teams will become “Marisa’s Minnows” as part of an annual fundraiser known as “Practice for a Purpose” with all donations collected benefiting the nonprofit.
Established in its namesake’s loving memory six years ago, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has donated more than $300,000 to fulfill its mission of assisting pediatric patients and children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.
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 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.
The Greater Middlesex Conference swimming community has played an enormous role in the foundation’s success, generating more than $27,000 for the nonprofit through its first four fundraisers, while simultaneously heightening awareness about the foundation’s mission.
“Practice for a Purpose” will be held Dec. 9 at North Brunswick Township High School starting at 8 a.m.
Teams will be 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. The participants will collectively swim inordinate miles of laps.
CarrieAnn Egan-Ragavas, the head coach of the host high school’s swimming program, said the North Brunswick school community “breathes helping others” and having the fundraiser at her pool “feels like it’s home.”
“It’s about building the community, building awareness and being a part of something that is bigger than you,” Egan-Ragavas said. “It’s important that we don’t lose sight of doing things for humanity,”
“It’s about giving their time, their thoughts, their effort, and their empathy toward others. The kids are so eager to be a part of this. It just resonates a lot about how much it means to the swimmers. Swimmers are the kinds of kids who are very humble. They are such well-balanced kids, and when they see something like this come their way, they can’t wait to be a part of it.”
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 – have participated as “Marisa’s Minnows” in previous “Practice for a Purpose” events.
Born with a complex cardiac defect, Marisa Tufaro survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant before succumbing in 2017 at the age of 13 to a rare form of cancer.
Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctor’s appointments, Marisa was an honor roll student in elementary and middle school who lived a vibrant life that inspired.
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.”