As an educator and baseball coach, South Brunswick High School Athletics Director CJ Hendricks instilled in his students and players the importance of community service and philanthropy.
In his second year as an administrator, Hendricks has put a new twist on giving back and paying forward with the creation of the Viking Cup, a three-event competition between students and staff at the high school that will generate funds for charity.
“It’s something as a teacher I always tried to focus on with my students,” Hendricks explained. “As a coach, I tried to make sure we were involved in the community at South Brunswick. Being in this new position as the AD at South Brunswick High School, I’m trying to expose our kids to acts of service.”
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW A PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE CHARITY BASKETBALL GAME
The opening act took place in the high school gymnasium on Wednesday afternoon as a team of faculty and coaches defeated student counterparts 37-33 in a basketball game.
All ticket sales from the contest, as well as proceeds from upcoming volleyball and dodgeball tournaments, will benefit The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, which assists pediatric patients and children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.
“The beauty about being at South Brunswick is we already have such a great foundation of service throughout our school-community,” Hendricks said. “There’s plenty of organizations that do great work. A lot of our sports teams are involved in philanthropy. I think just trying to connect more on a global scale, in terms of getting our entire student body involved in conjunction with our athletic department is really just the goal. I want all our kids to contribute as much as they can so when they leave South Brunswick and they go to a university or they go out into the community, they have a sense of pride in what they’ve done and want to continue to pay those great gestures forward.”
Teachers from various departments and coaches from multiple sports comprised the staff team for Wednesday’s basketball game, which also featured student-athletes and other students from across the high school.
Veteran South Brunswick head football coach Joe Goerge and his staff were a driving force behind the well-attended basketball game, during which faculty and students volunteered to officiate, keep score, operate the clock, and record video highlights.
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Following the completion of all three events between the students and staff, one of those sides will be crowned the Viking Cup champion for philanthropy at South Brunswick High School. A trophy will be awarded in the annual competition with the winning side and year engraved on the base plate. The trophy will be prominently displayed in a case at the high school.
South Brunswick’s football, basketball, baseball, cheerleading, soccer, wrestling, swimming, golf, and bowling teams are among those at the high school that have supported The Marisa Tufaro Foundation through their participation in charity events or fundraisers.
Established just over five and a half years ago, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has already made a profound impact, donating more than a quarter of a million dollars and spearheading multiple community initiatives to fulfill its mission.
The nonprofit has also donated thousands of toys, nonperishable food items, winter jackets, baby supplies, and other items upon which it has placed no monetary value.
In addition, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has awarded $26,500 in college academic scholarships to 38 exceptional Middlesex County high school students who advance the nonprofit’s mission.
Marisa Tufaro was born with a complex cardiac defect that required six open-heart surgeries. A heart transplant, which was supposed to extend her life, tragically cut it short after a postoperative complication developed into a rare form of cancer to which Marisa succumbed in 2017 following a valiant battle. She was just 13 years old.
Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctor’s appointments, Marisa was an honor roll student involved in myriad extracurricular activities who lived a vibrant life that inspired.