Commemorating what would have been its namesake’s birthday, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation on July 30 bestowed presents upon children hospitalized in her hometown.
The nonprofit donated hundreds of new toys for pediatric inpatients and visitors to the pediatric emergency department at Hackensack Meridian JFK University Medical Center in Edison.
The toys will engage the children, who can benefit from a diversion to help cope with the anxiety and pain that can accompany treatments, medical procedures and extended admissions.
The toys will also be gifted to children receiving services at the Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at JFK University Medical Center and Hackensack Meridian JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute.
“We are grateful to have the opportunity to support a community hospital in our own backyard that, incredibly, assisted more than 23,000 patients in its pediatric emergency department last year alone,” said Cyndi and Greg Tufaro, who established The Marisa Tufaro Foundation to keep alive their daughter’s indomitable spirit and allow her legacy to be one of helping others.
In partnership with the Old Bridge High School football program’s 2024 Holiday Knight Toy Drive and host Woodbridge High School’s 2023 Marisa Tufaro Classic Bowling Tournament, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has donated hundreds of toys each of the past two years to JFK University Medical Center.
The nonprofit extended that annual tradition with its most recent donation of hundreds of toys in honor and loving memory of Marisa.
Born with a complex cardiac defect, Marisa survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant before succumbing to a rare form of cancer in 2017. She was just 13 years old.
Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctors’ appointments, Marisa was an Edison Township Public Schools honor roll student involved in multiple extracurricular activities who lived a vibrant life that inspired.
Since its inception in July 2017, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has donated more than $400,000 to fulfill its mission of assisting pediatric patients and under-resourced children throughout the greater Middlesex County area.
The nonprofit has also donated thousands of toys, nonperishable food items, winter jackets, baby supplies, school supplies and other items upon which it has placed no monetary value.
In addition, the foundation has awarded $37,000 in academic scholarships to 51 inspirational high school seniors and sent 31 elementary and middle school students to a weeklong summer art camp at Rutgers University’s Zimmerli Museum.
On the anniversary of Marisa’s passing last year, the foundation bearing her name made another generous donation to Hackensack Meridian JFK University Medical Center.
The nonprofit donated a new portable Starlight Nintendo gaming station preloaded with more than two dozen video games, four new iPads with protective cases, more than 700 new children’s books for patients to read and keep, and two new courtesy charging stations for parents to charge their phones and tablets.
In addition, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation made a generous financial contribution to Hackensack Meridian JFK University Medical Center Foundation’s Patient Assistance Fund to help families of JFK University Medical Center’s pediatric patients cover out-of-pocket personal or medical expenses.
“We are eternally grateful to supporters of our foundation, who made these donations possible,” Cyndi and Greg Tufaro said.
“Their generosity brings comfort and joy to pediatric patients and their families.”
