The Saint Joseph and Saint Thomas Aquinas high school football teams are adding a page to their respective playbooks to promote the importance of early childhood literacy.
The border rivals will use their Oct. 19 meeting, which takes place during National Book Month, and the weeks leading up to it to partner with The Marisa Tufaro Foundation to collect monetary donations for the purchase of new children’s books for New Jersey’s Reach Out and Read program.
Donations are currently being accepted online and will be collected at the gate the day of the game, which kicks off at Brenner Family Field at Saint Joseph High School in Metuchen at 1 p.m.
Players and cheerleaders from both teams will also be visiting area elementary schools during National Book Month to read to students.
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation will match at least a portion of the schools’ fundraising total to purchase the new books, which will be donated to medical providers in Middlesex County who dedicate their time and expertise to educate and encourage income-challenged parents to read aloud to their children.
As part of a well-child visit at 100 participating health clinics statewide, the Reach Out and Read program incorporates reading into pediatric care, providing children from birth to 5 years of age and their families with free books and resources that promote early childhood literacy.
“I congratulate the players, cheerleaders and coaches from both high schools for using their big game to heighten awareness about this important initiative,” State Senator Patrick Diegnan said. “This outstanding literacy program provides parents with free books to read aloud to their children, giving them a foundation for success in school and life. Reading books out loud to your child is also a wonderful way to bond and stimulate their interest in reading. I could not be prouder of both school communities for working together for this excellent cause.”
Saint Thomas Aquinas (10-1) and Saint Joseph (7-3) ended last season ranked No. 2 and No. 9 respectively, out of 60 Big Central Football Conference teams in MyCentralJersey.com’s final rankings. Saint Thomas Aquinas was also ranked seventh in the state, according to USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey’s year-end rankings.
“As an English teacher at Woodbridge High School and head football coach at Saint Thomas Aquinas, it is an honor to team with Coach Bill Tracy and Saint Joseph along with The Marisa Tufaro Foundation to promote and advocate for the importance of early childhood literacy centered around New Jersey’s Reach Out and Read program,” said Saint Thomas Aquinas head coach Tarig Holman, who is also president of the New Jersey Football Coaches Association.
“As our teams compete in ‘the greatest game on the planet’ we are blessed to have the opportunity to be stewards of the game while impacting our community through servant leadership. We are extremely excited.”
More than 1 in 3 children nationwide start kindergarten without the language skills needed to learn to read, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The academy recommends pediatric providers promote early literacy development for children beginning in infancy and continuing through kindergarten.
Reach Out and Read facilitates that goal, making available in nearly 30 different languages free books that are representative of the broad spectrum of children and families the program serves. The stories are relevant and engaging, accurately reflect and affirm a diverse range of identities, cultures, and histories, and contain colorful illustrations that resonate with young children.
“Community service is an important part of the Saint Joseph culture and formation of our young men,” Saint Joseph High School President John G. Nolan, Jr. said. “I could not be more proud of our student-athletes and coaches as they partner with Saint Thomas Aquinas High School and The Marisa Tufaro Foundation in support of the Reach Out and Read program.”
Despite being born with a severe cardiac defect that required six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s namesake was an avid reader who inherited an affinity for books from her parents. They read daily to Marisa at home and in the hospital when she was an infant and toddler.
Marisa Tufaro, who succumbed to a rare form of cancer in 2017 at the age of 13 following a valiant battle, was hospitalized for more than two years and maintained hundreds of doctors’ appointments. Reading played a paramount role in Marisa overcoming her medical challenges to become an Edison Township Public Schools honor roll student.
“We are humbled to be a part of honoring the memory of Marisa Tufaro and assisting the Reach Out and Read program and fundraiser,” Tracy said. “This program is a great endeavor to promote child literacy and bring families closer together. Our game with Saint Thomas will be a terrific platform to both raise awareness and to help our community. We are all excited to be a part of it.”
Since its inception in July 2017, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has donated more than $350,000 to fulfill its mission of assisting pediatric patients and other 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 46 scholarships totaling $33,000 to high school seniors and sent 27 elementary and middle school students to a weeklong summer art camp at Rutgers University’s Zimmerli Art Museum.
“We’ve been blessed beyond words with amazing support from so many people, including the Saint Joseph and Saint Thomas Aquinas school communities,” said Marisa’s mother, Cyndi Tufaro, who is the foundation’s executive director and the principal at James Monroe Elementary School in Edison.
“This particular fundraiser has added meaning because of the profound impact reading had on Marisa and the role books played in her life,” said Marisa’s father, Greg, a former sportswriter for USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey. “Our nonprofit considers itself honored to be able to provide the gift of literacy to children and families in need.
“We can’t thank everyone enough who is donating to the cause and hope their benevolence is exponentially returned.”