VOLUME 1 DECEMBER 2017

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE MARISA TUFARO FOUNDATION

INSIDE THIS NEWSLETTER THANK YOU

Established less than five months ago, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has
FUNDRAISERS
already made a profound impact, providing assistance to pediatric patients and
TRIBUTES other children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area. Through
the generosity of others, we have been afforded the opportunity to give back to
SCHOLARSHIPS
a community that has forever shown us overwhelming love and support. Our
INITIATIVES debut newsletter reflects upon all you’ve enabled the foundation to thus far
accomplish through your financial contributions and volunteerism. It also
highlights the wonderful fundraisers that benefitted our tax-exempt nonprofit.
Because of your kindness, Marisa’s legacy has been one of giving as the foundation established in her name pays
forward the kindness of others. We wish you the best this holiday season and hope your benevolence is returned
exponentially in the coming year.

The Marisa Tufaro Foundation

P.O. Box 10625
New Brunswick, New Jersey
08906
Contact us at:
[email protected]
Follow us: Community service is an integral part of our
Twitter: @foundationMT foundation's mission of helping children in
Facebook: MarisaTufaroFoudation need.Those interested in becoming a “Marisa’s

Web: www.MarisaTufaroFoundation.org Missionary” or partaking in a “Marisa’s Mission,”

please contact us at [email protected].
 INITIATIVES
SPECIAL STRIDES PHYSICAL THERAPY GIFT
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s Special Strides physical
therapy gift afforded two children the opportunity to
receive hippotherapy at the Special Strides Therapeutic
Riding Center in Monroe. Both recipients were Middlesex
County residents whose families either do not have health
insurance or whose families’ health insurer does not
cover the cost of hippotherapy. According to Special
Strides, “Having a child with a challenge often places a
financial burden on a family. Too often therapy is not
covered by insurance. Therefore, it is the goal of Special
Strides to help provide all children an opportunity to
experience our magic regardless of their financial status.”

SUPPORT ART THERAPY AND CHILD

LIFE AT BMSCH
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation made a generous
donation to the child life program at The Bristol-Myers
Squibb Children’s Hospital (BMSCH).The financial
contribution will support instruction and supplies for
BMSCH’s art therapy program and provide funds for
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE infant mobiles, toy cars that staff will use to transport
children to the operating room for surgery and bubbles
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s leadership
that will be included in welcome bags for patients.
commemorated what would have been
Marisa’s 14th birthday on July 30 by “Expanding our art therapy program adds another
providing lunch and dinner to families dimension to the service we can provide to support our
staying at the Ronald McDonald House of children, especially with patients who have acute
Central Jersey. In addition, The Marisa psychological needs,” said Barbara Romito, Director of
Tufaro Foundation helped replenish the Child Life at BMSCH. “Programs like art therapy offer
house with items it needs and provided gift children ways to express themselves so they can cope
cards to residents. No funds from The with their hospital experience.”
Marisa Tufaro Foundation were used for
the donated meals, items and gift cards as
our foundation’s leadership made the
provisions in Marisa’s memory. In the
ensuing months, others have volunteered
on behalf of the foundation, donating their
time to prepare meals and provide goods
for residents of the house.
 COAT DRIVE WITH
HOLIDAY KNIGHT
MIDDLESEX HIGH
TOY DRIVE SCHOOL
Our foundation partnered with
Middlesex High School
Old Bridge and South Brunswick
partnered with The
high schools to collect
Marisa Tufaro
thousands of toys for pediatric
Foundation to collect
patients at Saint Peter’s
winter coats, hats,
University Children’s Hospital
scarves and gloves for
and Bristol-Myers Squib
children in need during
Children’s Hospital. “Saint EDISON HIGH SCHOOL
an Oct. 20 home football
Peter’s and our pediatric families FOOTBALL TEAM AND game. “I hope that the
are grateful for the support of
CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE students and the parents
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation
and Old Bridge and South
OF NURSING RACE TO that participated in the
OUTRUN HUNGER coat drive really know
Brunswick high schools,” said
how helpful they have
Phil Hartman, hospital The Edison High School been and how they have
spokesman. “We serve football team and rescued some children
thousands of children in need of Chamberlain College of from the cold,” said
serious medical care whose lives Nursing partnered with The Jackie Goedesky,
will be immeasurably brightened Marisa Tufaro Foundation to president and founder of
by the caring and support of the raise money and collect Hands of Hope, which
foundation and the school nonperishable food items for distributed the items to
communities.” children and their families Middlesex County
through their participation in residents.
the fourth annual Race to
Outrun Hunger. The 5K
benefited Hands of Hope, an
Edison-based nonprofit
committed to providing an
efficient and centralized
system for distributing food to
alleviate hunger in Middlesex
County. Race director
Any individuals or Stephen Dennis said this
businesses interested in year’s 5K was “the most
sponsoring a foundation successful we’ve had in terms
event or sponsoring our of number of participants and
specially designed “Marisa’s awareness in the community,”
Missionary” T-shirts, please a fact he attributed in part to
email our leadership at the participation of
[email protected] Chamberlain and Edison
students.
 EDISON TOWNSHIP EDUCATION ASSOCIATION VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT FUNDRAISER
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation was one of four beneficiaries of the Edison
Township Education Association’s seventh annual volleyball tournament. The
event featured teams of faculty members from every township school. Several of
Marisa’s former James Monroe Elementary School teachers and some new staff
members she was never fortunate enough to meet participated in the
tournament at J.P. Stevens High School. James Monroe players wore purple T-
shirts with Marisa’s initials in white lettering and an angel’s wings of the same
color emblazoned above the left breast.

TEAMWORK UNLIMITED AND AUTISM AWARENESS BASEBALL CHALLENGE FUNDRAISER

The Teamwork Unlimited Foundation, which runs the Autism Awareness Baseball
Challenge, featuring 40 high school teams from New Jersey, generously donated
to The Marisa Tufaro Foundation on behalf of players who hit home runs during
the three-day event. Each player who homered during any of the 20 Autism
Awareness Baseball Challenge games at North Brunswick’s Community Park
signed his name inside one of the 23 oversized baseballs that adorned a huge
purple banner with the words “Make a Memory for Marisa” emblazoned across
the top. Teams from as far north as Sussex County and from as far south as Atlantic
County competed in the event, which featured 16 Middlesex County schools.

GREATER MIDDLESEX CONFERENCE ALL-STAR BASKETBALL DOUBLEHEADER FUNDRAISER

All proceeds from the Greater Middlesex Conference Basketball Coaches Association’s 24th annual Senior
All-Star doubleheader were donated to The Marisa Tufaro Foundation. The girls and boys all-star games,
featuring the league’s top high school upperclassmen, were contested at Woodbridge High School, which
donated its facilities and whose staff volunteered to host the event. The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s
moniker appeared on the plaques that were presented to each game MVP.

GMC ALL-STAR BASEBALL DOUBLEHEADER FUNDRAISER

All proceeds from the Greater Middlesex Conference Baseball Coaches Association’s fourth
annual all-star doubleheader benefited The Marisa Tufaro Foundation. More than 80 of the
league’s top high school players were featured in the Underclassmen Showcase and the Frank
Gavigan Senior All-Star Game at national award-winning Raymond J. Cipperly Field. In lieu of
admission, spectators made generous donations to The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.

METUCHEN HIGH SCHOOL PROVING GROUND MUD RUN FUNDRAISER

Nearly 200 students participated in Metuchen High School’s Proving Ground Mud Run, which
transformed the sprawling campus into a massive obstacle course with more than 30 mentally and
physically challenging stations that promoted teamwork and leadership. Private donations and
money raised through the sale of food – Mom’s Food and Beverage donated 20 percent of its
earnings – and promotional items (T-shirts and wristbands) benefited our foundation.

OHLSON SISTERS LEMONADE STAND FUNDRAISER

The elementary school daughters of Kelly Ohlson, a first-grade teacher at Lindeneau
Elementary School, sold “freshly made” lemonade from a stand in front of their house to
raise money for the foundation. The girls decorated their concession stand with beautiful
signs featuring pictures of Marisa, who they were “remembering with love.”
 SAYREVILLE HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER PROGRAM AND MATTHEW J. WELNA FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER
In addition to raising money for scholarships to be awarded to a
Sayreville graduating senior student-athlete and a current Rider
University soccer player – an annual mission of the Sayreville Alumni
Soccer Game – the Sayreville High School boys soccer program and The
Matthew M. Welna Foundation combined to honor Marisa with a
generous donation to her foundation at this year’s event. A former
Sayreville and Rider soccer star, Matthew died tragically at the age of 25 on March 20, 2015, leaving behind a loving family
including his parents, Roma and Jerry, and sisters, Michelle and Olivia, as well as an entire community of friends.

MIDDLESEX HIGH SCHOOL PINK OUT FUNDRAISER

The Middlesex High School football team, which went 1-9 a year ago, culminated one of the greatest
turnarounds in state history, capping an 11-1 season earlier this month with the school’s first state
championship since 1984. Along the way, the football program hosted a Pink Out for cancer awareness
during one of its home games, at which the school raised money for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.

JOHN MARSHALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL JUMP-A-THON FUNDRAISER

The Marisa Tufaro Foundation was one of two beneficiaries of John Marshall Elementary School’s Jump-A-
Thon. The fitness fundraiser, which physical education teacher Scott Gerba organized, involved more than
100 fifth-grade students. The event culminated yearlong physical fitness activities for the students. In
previous years, the annual Jump-A-Thon has benefitted the Ronald McDonald House and St. Jude’s
Children’s Hospital. The event was a collaborative effort involving all of the fifth-grade teachers, who
worked in concert covering classrooms so all fifth-grade students could participate.

CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE OF NURSING STUDENT NURSES ASSOCIATION FUNDRAISER

The Student Nurses Association of the Chamberlain College of Nursing in North
Brunswick conducted an online fundraiser for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.
Heather Zayas, president of the school’s Student Nurses Association, made a
heartfelt speech upon presenting our foundation’s leadership a beautiful hand-
crafted oversized check on which the words “pay forward the kindness of
others” – extracted from our foundation website – were inscribed along with
the total amount of money raised.

SNAPPLE BOWL AND CHICK-FIL-A SPIRIT NIGHT FUNDRAISER

The Snapple Bowl, a charity all-star football game featuring players from
Middlesex and Union counties, conducted a “Spirit Night” at the Chick-fil-A
restaurant in Woodbridge to benefit The Marisa Tufaro Foundation. Chick-
fil-A donated a percentage of its profits from “Spirit Night” to the
foundation. Hundreds patronized the restaurant’s “Spirit Night” including
nearly 100 players, cheerleaders and coaches from the Middlesex County
all-star squad. Later that week, Snapple Bowl founder and game director
Marcus Borden made donations from two separate 50/50 raffles – one at a
pregame banquet and the other from the game – to the foundation.

JOHN P. STEVENS HIGH SCHOOL FUNDRAISER

John P. Stevens High School, which holds Spirit Days throughout the academic year, a byproduct of which is a fundraising
component, made a generous donation to The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, upholding the school’s tradition of giving back
to the community.
 SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation will award at least $5,000 in scholarship money before the
conclusion of the academic year to students who attend school in or are residents of
Middlesex County. Generous benefactors, who wish to remain anonymous, have fully
funded two of the scholarships for very specific purposes. Those awards are a scholarship
for two students to attend a weeklong summer arts camp at Rutgers University’s Zimmerli
Art Museum and a scholarship for an exceptional Edison High School senior. In addition,
The Marisa Tufaro Foundation is sponsoring a community service scholarship for a high
school senior who has helped children in need and two scholarships for Greater Middlesex
Conference student-athletes who have overcome adversity, performed community service
and been inspired by Marisa to make a difference in the lives of others. Woodbridge High
School, which awarded its first Woodbridge High School Marisa Tufaro Memorial
Scholarship earlier this year, will make that award available once again to its students. The scholarship
opportunities have been publicized on social media and information about them has been shared with guidance
counselors at all Middlesex County high schools.

A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP FOR KIDDIE KEEP WELL CAMPERS

The Marisa Tufaro Foundation made a generous donation to Kiddie
Keep Well Camp (KKWC), which will allow the camp to replace all
of its outdated wooden bunk beds with brand new ones made of
metal. Located in Edison’s Roosevelt Park, KKWC has provided
residential camping experiences for underserved children of
Middlesex County for nearly a century. With room to accommodate
150 campers at a time, KKWC features nine cabins, two swimming
pools, a learning center and other amenities. KKWC accepts more
than 600 campers annually, providing comprehensive educational
and recreational programming at no cost to eligible campers. School nurses, guidance counselors, principals and
the New Jersey Department of Youth and Family Services refer children to KKWC. The new metal bunk beds will
provide safe and secure sleeping quarters for the children. Some of the wooden bunk beds are difficult to repair,
maintain and clean. KKWC staffers will use the wood from the old bunk beds to create other pieces, such as
garden boxes, with the children, an activity that will teach the campers about recycling.

POOLING RESOURCES FOR LAKEVIEW SCHOOL

The Marisa Tufaro Foundation made a generous donation to the Lakeview
School, a program of the New Jersey Institute for Disabilities. The
charitable gift will provide equipment and supplies for students utilizing the
school’s newly constructed Aquatics Center, which includes a state-of-the-
art hydrotherapy pool. The pool provides therapy and rehabilitation to
students with disabilities. No steps, ladders or lifts are necessary for access
to the pool because its floor – which doubles as a variable-speed treadmill
– is height-adjustable, allowing students and clinical staff to stand or sit on
the floor while being lowered into the water. The hydrotherapy pool features
five underwater cameras and a digital monitoring system, enhancing
diagnostic capabilities for therapists and physicians. The warmth and buoyancy of the water stimulate increased
mobility and range of motion, which allow therapists to help students work on their balance, coordination and strength
– skills that can be transferred to the land. The Lakeview School is one of the nation's largest day programs for
children with multiple disabilities. It boasts the most extensive clinical staff of any private or public school in the state,
providing consultant medical and psychological services, specialized nursing services, social services and medical
screenings. The school has more than 150 students ranging in age from 3 to 21 from a dozen counties statewide –
including Middlesex County, where the school is located – who have nearly 100 different medical diagnoses.
TRIBUTES
DECEMBER 2017 VOLUME 1
AMONG THOSE WHO RECOGNIZED MARISA
WITH PUBLIC TRIBUTES THIS YEAR
Alongi family and Wayland Public Schools gift card drive for
pediatric patients in Marisa’s memory

Asbury Park Press Shore Conference Ice Hockey Classic

participants who wore commemorative game patches

Andrew Brazicki and the Bentley University football

program’s gift card drive in Marisa’s memory for Boston
Children’s Hospital

College student-athletes wearing specially designed

bracelets and writing Marisa's initials on equipment
MEET THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Cyndi Tufaro Brett Epps penning and recording a lyrically touching
Susan Seago musical tribute to Marisa
Lynda Zapoticzny
PHOTO BY MARTIN R. SMITH

Ronald Zapoticzny Fort Wayne Tin Caps scoreboard message on what would
have been Marisa's 14th birthday
Dr. Joseph Gaffney
Candice Smith, RN Greater Middlesex Conference baseball players and
Senator Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. coaches wearing purple wristbands bearing Marisa's initials
Frank Noppenberger in white lettering

BEHIND THE SCENES

Greater Middlesex Conference Athletics Directors with a
50/50 benefiting the foundation at the league's annual
scholar-athlete banquet

Kim Riemann of SAHM Web Design created Herbert Hoover Middle School staff, faculty and students
our foundation’s beautiful website honoring Marisa in a variety of ways during the eighth-grade
promotion ceremony

High school student-athletes and coaches in myriad ways

Marissa Mavroudas designed our visually
stunning foundation logos James Monroe Elementary School in numerous ways

Marisa’s Makers Club of Herbert Hoover Middle School

Gary Hoagland enabled our foundation to "connecting to the community one craft at a time"
become exempt from federal income tax and
Martin Luther King Elementary School’s coloring book,
recognized as a public charity under Internal crayon and canvas bag drive for Bristol-Myers Squibb
Revenue Code Section 501(c )(3) Children’s Hospital

St. Joseph High School ice hockey team with a moment of

silence and league championship trophy tribute
Michele Kuhn edited all copy for our
foundation website and press releases San Antonio Missions remembering Marisa on what would
have been her 14th birthday

Ron Mazzola designed our "Marisa's Snapple Bowl staff, players and cheerleaders with moment
of silence, commemorative helmet stickers and purple hair
Missionary" T-shirts
ribbons