The South Brunswick girls soccer program epitomizes the high school athletics department’s philanthropic spirit of supporting others and giving back to the community.
For that reason, it came as little surprise that the Vikings emerged as the top fundraiser for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation in the fourth annual Greater Middlesex Conference Soccer for a Cause Charity Festival.
Colonia raised the most money for the event’s other beneficiary, Go4theGoal.
“One of the biggest things we preach at South Brunswick is the importance of community service,” South Brunswick Athletics Director CJ Hendricks said. “We encourage all of our teams to get involved in some type of philanthropy. I’m really proud, not just of our girls soccer program, but all of our programs. Girls soccer coach Alex Bravo and her staff do a great job.”
South Brunswick’s football, basketball, baseball, cheerleading, wrestling, swimming, golf, and bowling teams are among those at the high school that have also supported The Marisa Tufaro Foundation through their participation in charity events or fundraisers.
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The high school’s girls soccer program was one of 22 from the conference to participate in the Soccer for a Cause Charity Festival, which featured 11 games contested at Metuchen High School on Saturday.
In addition to competing on the field, the teams engaged in a friendly fundraising competition in the weeks leading up to the festival, with half raising money for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation and the other half generating funds for Go4theGoal.
North Brunswick, East Brunswick, Old Bridge, Monroe, Piscataway, J.P. Stevens, Saint Thomas, Edison, Carteret, and North Plainfield joined South Brunswick in raising money for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.
South Brunswick’s accomplishment as the charity festival’s top fundraiser for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation was acknowledged as the team was presented with a plaque upon which the school’s name was engraved. Edison, Old Bridge and Carteret earned the distinction as the top fundraisers for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation the previous three years.
South Brunswick also fundraises for the foundation through its annual Viking Cup for Philanthropy, a three-event competition between students and staff at the high school that generates funds for charity. The competition features basketball, dodgeball and volleyball.
Since its inception seven years ago, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, which assists pediatric patients and children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area, has donated more than $350,000 to fulfill its mission.
In addition, the nonprofit has spearheaded multiple community 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.
The foundation has also awarded $33,000 in scholarships to 42 Middlesex County high school seniors and sent 27 elementary and middle school students to a weeklong summer art camp at Rutgers University’s Zimmerli Art Museum.
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation was established in loving memory of its namesake, who was born with a severe 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 following a valiant battle.
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. She lived a vibrant life that inspired.
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation is eternally grateful for the support it has received from the girls soccer program and the entire South Brunswick school community.
