The Marisa Tufaro Foundation is conducting a Tournament of Roses Parade Charity Walk and Food Drive July 18 at Saint Joseph High School in Metuchen.The parade will take place three days before the Marisa Rose Bowl, a charity all-star football game benefiting The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, whose mission is to assist children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.
The charity walk is a two-mile stroll along the grounds of Saint Joseph’s scenic 70-acre campus to heighten awareness about food insecurity.
The accompanying food drive is a collection of donations for REPLENISH, a regional food bank serving Middlesex County residents, including an estimated 30,000 children, and the Middlesex College Resource Hub & Food Pantry.
You can register for the walk by completing the form on this page.
The $10 registration fee includes a free commemorative Tournament of Roses Parade T-shirt and beverages.
All participants are respectfully requested to bring at least one item for donation to REPLENISH and the Middlesex College Resource Hub & Food Pantry from the recommended list below:
Non-perishable food – Rice, tuna, peanut butter, canned vegetables and meats, beans, soup, and pasta.
Other items – Deodorant, soap, shampoo, diapers, baby wipes, gift cards to Target, Walmart, ShopRite, Stop & Shop, and Costco.
Sign-in and T-shirt pickup for the July 18 Tournament of Roses Parade will be conducted July 18 at Saint Joseph’s Brenner Family Field (football stadium) from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The charity walk will commence promptly at 4:45 p.m.
Rain date for the event is July 19.
All participants will be asked to wear their commemorative T-shirts during the walk as a show of solidarity.
The parade serves as a community service project for more than 100 high school Class of 2022 players and cheerleaders participating in the Marisa Rose Bowl.
Since its inception less than five years ago, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has made a profound impact, donating a quarter of a million dollars to assist pediatric patients and underserved children.
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.
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has awarded $21,500 in academic scholarships to 31 high school graduates, and an additional 13 scholarships for middle school and elementary school students to attend a weeklong summer art camp at Rutgers University’s Zimmerli Art Museum.
Marisa Rose Tufaro, who would have graduated last year from Edison High School, survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant before succumbing to a rare form of cancer in 2017 following a valiant battle.
Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctor’s appointments, she lived a vibrant life that inspired.
The Tournament of Roses Parade reflects Marisa Rose Tufaro’s first community service project, which as an elementary school student was to collect nonperishable food items for donation to a local food pantry.
Parade attendees are invited to remain on Saint Joseph school grounds after the walk to watch Marisa Rose Bowl football and/or cheerleading practice, which will start that same day at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets for the upcoming Marisa Rose Bowl will also be available for purchase that day.