On the anniversary of its namesake’s untimely passing, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation made a generous donation to support pediatric patients and their families at the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center and The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital (BMSCH) at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) in New Brunswick.
The philanthropic gift will help the Child Life Program at the cancer center and hospital launch a specially trained full-time dedicated facility therapy dog and expand its art therapy program.
“We are deeply grateful to The Marisa Tufaro Foundation for honoring Marisa’s life in a way that so powerfully supports our patients and families,” said Kelly Chaknis, Chief Administrative Officer at BMSCH at RWJUH. “This generous gift will enhance our ability to care for the whole child, supporting not only medical needs, but also emotional well-being during some of life’s most difficult moments.”
Born with a complex cardiac defect, Marisa Tufaro survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant before succumbing on Jan. 30, 2017, at the age of 13 to a rare form of cancer.
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.
The donation has special meaning to the Tufaro family because Marisa immensely benefited from pet therapy and art therapy during hospitalizations at multiple medical centers, including BMSCH.
She was also under the loving care for her entire life of Joseph Gaffney, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Division Chief, Pediatric Cardiology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and RWJUH.
“We hope this donation in Marisa’s loving memory, made possible through the remarkable generosity of our foundation’s benevolent supporters, will provide comfort to pediatric patients and their families,” said Marisa’s parents, Cyndi and Greg Tufaro.
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s philanthropic gift will help make hospital admissions and cancer center visits less daunting for children and their families. Pet therapy and art therapy can help pediatric patients cope with the anxiety and fear that can accompany treatments, medical procedures, surgeries, and hospitalizations.
Unlike volunteer therapy dogs that visit occasionally, the dedicated facility therapy dog works full-time as part of the care team alongside clinicians, nurses, child life specialists, and social workers to provide emotional comfort, stress reduction, and support to patients and their families. Fully integrated into patient care activities and hospital protocols, the dedicated facility therapy dog helps patients cope with the challenges of treatment through calming companionship.
With the expansion of its art therapy program, the hospital and cancer center will be better equipped to support the emotional well-being of pediatric patients. The enhanced program will provide more children with access to creative, therapeutic experiences designed to reduce stress, encourage self-expression, and promote healing during medical treatment.
Led by clinicians professionally trained in art and therapy, the expanded program will offer individual and group sessions tailored to children’s developmental needs, abilities, and medical conditions. Through activities such as drawing, painting, and mixed media art, patients are given a safe and supportive way to express emotions, cope with anxiety, and regain a sense of control during their medical experience.
“The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has been blessed and privileged beyond words to pay forward the kindness of others,” Cyndi and Greg Tufaro said. “This donation extends our nonprofit’s continued support of pediatric patients receiving extraordinary care at BMSCH and the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center.”
Established eight and a half years ago in Marisa’s honor and to keep alive her indomitable spirit, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has made a profound impact, donating nearly $450,000 to fulfill its mission.
The nonprofit, 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, children’s books, school supplies and other items for donation upon which it has placed no monetary value.
In addition, the foundation has awarded $36,500 in scholarships to exceptional high school seniors who have helped children in need and sent 31 elementary and middle school students to a weeklong summer art camp at Rutgers University’s Zimmerli Museum.