Since its inception eight years ago today, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has donated more than $400,000 to assist pediatric patients and other children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.
The announcement comes on what would have been the birthday of the nonprofit’s namesake, who survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant before succumbing in 2017 at the age of 13 to a rare form of cancer following a valiant battle.
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, which makes community service an integral part of its mission, 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 the nonprofit has placed no monetary value.
The foundation has awarded $36,500 in college academic scholarships to 50 high school seniors and sent 31 elementary and middle school students to a weeklong summer art camp at Rutgers University’s Zimmerli Museum.
The Edison Chamber of Commerce named The Marisa Tufaro Foundation its 2024 Organization of the Year, while the YMCA of Metuchen-Edison-Woodbridge-South Amboy presented the nonprofit with its 2023 Barnes Community Champion Award.
Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctor’s appointments, Marisa Tufaro was an Edison Township Public Schools honor roll student involved in myriad extracurricular activities. She lived a vibrant life that inspired.
Through the remarkable benevolence of individuals who have donated or participated in fundraising events, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has made a profound impact, enabling Marisa’s parents, Cyndi and Greg, to pay forward the kindness of others.
The nonprofit has benefited from dozens of fundraisers, ranging in size from tiny lemonade stands on suburban streets to Greater Middlesex Conference-wide all-star games and tournaments in which student-athletes from the entire league have participated.
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s eight-member board of trustees includes state Sen. Patrick Diegnan, Greater Middlesex Conference Executive Director Frank Noppenberger, and Dr. Joseph Gaffney, professor of pediatrics and division chief, Pediatric Cardiology at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
As a small nonprofit, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation distinguishes itself from others, publishing complete stories about fundraising events, features about initiatives, and full profiles of scholarship recipients on its website. The foundation has published nearly 500 stories, all of which are shared on the nonprofit’s X and Facebook pages.
Greg and Cyndi Tufaro are grateful beyond words and do not take for granted a penny donated or second volunteered to the nonprofit bearing their daughter’s name.
Blessed with incredible support, Cyndi, a longtime Edison Township Public Schools educator, and Greg, a former journalist with the Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com who now serves as Senator Diegnan’s chief of staff, will never find the right way to express their appreciation.
They can only hope the foundation’s actions speak louder than words.
To learn more about The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, please visit marisatufarofoundation.org.