Thanks to the remarkable generosity of its benefactors, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation was honored to donate a single-year record $61,950 in 2025 to assist pediatric patients and children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.
“We are appreciative beyond words to all who continue to support The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, which since its inception in July 2017 has now donated a grand total of nearly $450,000 to fulfill its mission,” said Cyndi Tufaro, the foundation’s executive director.
“Thank you to all for allowing our nonprofit to make a profound impact on the lives of those we serve. We are grateful for every penny donated and every second of time volunteered. We can only hope the foundation’s actions speak louder than words.”
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, children’s books, school supplies and other items for donation upon which the nonprofit has placed no monetary value.
The foundation has awarded 50 college scholarships totaling $36,500 to high school seniors and sent 31 elementary and middle school students to a weeklong summer art camp at Rutgers University’s Zimmerli Museum.
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.
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.
Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctor’s appointments, Marisa was an Edison Township Public Schools honor roll student involved in myriad extracurricular activities who lived a vibrant life that inspired.
Marisa received outstanding care from the staff and physicians at Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, Boston Children’s Hospital and from some of the outpatient services Children’s Specialized Hospital of New Jersey provides.
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, which is exempt from federal income tax and recognized as a public charity under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), has been blessed to give back to each of those medical centers.
The YMCA of Metuchen, Edison, Woodbridge and South Amboy honored The Marisa Tufaro Foundation with its prestigious 2023 Barnes Community Champion Award, while Hands of Hope for the Community recognized the nonprofit as its 2024 Tee Off Against Hunger honoree for its “dedicated efforts in fostering positive change within the community.” The Edison Chamber of Commerce named The Marisa Tufaro Foundation its 2024 Organization of the Year.
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s eight-member board of trustees includes State Senator 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 the donations it makes, fundraising events from which it benefits, 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 social media channels.
The foundation is a fitting way to keep alive Marisa’s indomitable spirit and allow her legacy to be one of helping others.