Marisa Tufaro’s paternal grandmother prepared wonderful Italian pasta dinners.

On any given Sunday, the aroma of meatballs, sausage, and braciole simmering on the stove for hours in homemade gravy (sauce) filled the house. As preparation for the main course neared its end, family members would whet their palates with mozzarella, prosciutto, and Italian bread while the sounds of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett or Dean Martin played softly in the background. A pinochle card game usually followed the meal.

The Plainfields’ Chapter of UNICO will capture the spirit of those traditional family meals that were and remain a staple of many Italian American households with an upcoming fundraising event.

Proceeds from “Nonna’s Sunday Dinner” will benefit local charities, including The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, and generate scholarship opportunities for high school seniors of Italian heritage.

“Nonna’s Sunday Dinner” will be held Feb. 2 at Saint Stephen’s Church Hall in South Plainfield with seating beginning at 4 p.m. for a homemade Italian dinner served at 5 p.m.

Attendees will enjoy salad, antipasto, pasta, meatballs, sausage, and dessert amid a musical backdrop of Italian classics. A tricky tray and 50-50 raffle will highlight the evening.

Ticket information and details about the event can be found at the bottom of this story.

“Nonna’s Sunday Dinner” will coincidentally take place on the birthday of Marisa Tufaro’s paternal grandfather, who in 1967 co-founded and for a decade co-owned and co-operated Imperial Delicatessen on Park Avenue in South Plainfield.

A nonprofit organization, The Plainfields’ Chapter is part of UNICO National, the country’s largest Italian American service organization, whose mission is to promote Italian American heritage and culture through the support of charitable, scientific, educational, cultural, and literary initiatives.

The Plainfields’ Chapter embodies the UNICO acronym, which stands for Unity, Neighborliness, Integrity, Charity, and Opportunity. The chapter grants scholarships, participates in projects to help the handicapped, serves the community, and donates to local charities, mental health programs and cancer research.

“Our nonprofit is honored to be a beneficiary of this wonderful fundraising dinner that supports the outstanding work of the Plainfields’ Chapter of UNICO,” said Cyndi Tufaro, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s executive director.

“We are grateful beyond words to all involved and look forward to giving back to the South Plainfield community, which has bestowed remarkable kindness and generosity upon our foundation.”

Established in its namesake’s loving memory seven years ago, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has donated more than $350,000 to fulfill its mission of assisting pediatric patients and children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.

The foundation 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 in Marisa’s name to high school seniors including South Plainfield graduates Lindsay Oller, Alex Gibson, Jeffrey Jacome, Nick Loniewski, Abdul Cokley, Luke Niemeyer, Joseph Heilmann, and Charles Lovett.

The nonprofit has also sent 27 elementary and middle school students to a weeklong summer art camp at Rutgers University’s Zimmerli Museum.

Born with a complex cardiac defect, Marisa Tufaro survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant before succumbing to a rare form of cancer in 2017 at the age of 13.

Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctors’ appointments, Marisa Tufaro was an Edison Township Public Schools honor roll student involved in myriad extracurricular activities who lived a vibrant life that inspired.

Marisa Tufaro would have loved being a part of “Nonna’s Sunday Dinner.” Her family looks forward to an enjoyable evening and hopes many in the community will consider joining the Plainfields’ Chapter of UNICO for this wonderful fundraising event.

Tickets for adults ($35) and children 12-and-under ($15) can be purchased in advance online (please indicate UNICO or PASTA in memo) or via phone at 908-251-4066. Tickets at the door for adults are $40. Children 2-and-under are admitted free of charge. Tables can be reserved for parties of 10.

Businesses or individuals interested in donating store items, gift certificates, service certificates, or making a monetary contribution for the purchase of tricky tray items can call 908-251-4066.