Woodbridge, host of Marisa Rose Bowl, builds leaders through community service

Dating back to its inception more than a century ago, the Woodbridge High School football program has an illustrious past.

The Barrons have produced more than 150 college players, six who went on to play professionally including the high school’s most famous alumnus, former Detroit Lions offensive lineman Lou Creekmur, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Beneath its storied on-field success, the Woodbridge gridiron program also has a more recent and burgeoning tradition of community service, which successive high school principals established throughout the entire school community.

“Over the years, the principals of Woodbridge High School have created a family atmosphere,” Woodbridge High School Athletics Director Joe Ward said.

“In any family, you look out for each other, and you try to help each other, and I think that’s what we try to do in Woodbridge Township and Woodbridge High School. We look out for our neighbors and families of our students and try to help and give back any way we can.”

The school community’s goodwill is reflected in myriad fundraisers for countless beneficiaries, extensive volunteerism for various charities, donation drives and collections for individuals in need, and random acts of kindness.

A microcosm of Woodbridge’s benevolent nature will be on full display when the high school hosts the second annual Bellamy and Sons Paving Marisa Rose Bowl at Nicholas A. Priscoe Stadium on June 29 at 7 p.m.

All proceeds from the charity all-star football game will benefit The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, a nonprofit that assists pediatric patients and other children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.

Formerly known as the Snapple Bowl and Autoland Classic, the contest is New Jersey’s most successful charity all-star football game, having generated $736,000 for worthy causes since it was first played in 1994.

The game features the top graduating high school senior football players and cheerleaders from Middlesex County in an intra-county affair.

Woodbridge will be well-represented in the event with players Milton Davis, Lazarus Lisojo, Julian Tavares, Kaelyb Barahona, Dennis Smith and Michael Darkwah, cheerleaders Caroline Ruiz and Kaylee Russo, and coaches Joe LaSala and Tracy Fudge.

Since its inception less than six years ago, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has donated more than a quarter of a million dollars 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.

'We are trying to build leaders'

Among the nonprofit’s biggest supporters, Woodbridge High School and Woodbridge Township have been invaluable community partners.

Reflecting the school community’s commitment to assist others in need, a Woodbridge High School alumnus or alumna has earned a Marisa Tufaro Memorial Community Service Scholarship each of the past five years, a streak to which no other Middlesex County high school can stake claim. The foundation has awarded a total of $26,500 in academic scholarships to 38 Middlesex County high school seniors who espouse its mission.

More: Press conference kicks off Marisa Rose Bowl charity all-star football game

“We are trying to build leaders, and the only way to get that experience is by giving them an opportunity, to lay out a framework and teach them to execute,” Woodbridge Township School District Superintendent Joseph Massimino said of the Barrons’ commitment to community service, which includes football players and cheerleaders being part of the Marisa Rose Bowl.

“They are doing the legwork and I don’t know anything that can make me more proud. The fact that they can be part of something important and bigger than themselves at such a young age is impressive. They will remain leaders in our community. Actions speak louder than words and this is a fine example.”

A lifelong township resident who commenced his career in education more than two decades ago under former Woodbridge High School Principal Lee Warren, Massimino credited his mentor with instilling the “concept of family” in faculty and staff.

“Everybody says we are in the education business, but we are really in the family business,” Massimino said. “I don’t know how you can do education the way we do if you don’t embrace the idea of family. It’s a privilege to spend time with other people’s children.”

The philosophy is one which LaSala embraces as the football program’s head coach, a role in which he impresses upon players the importance of supporting one another and giving back.

“We are a tight-knit community,” LaSala said. “Everybody has each other’s back in and outside of the school building. As far as the football program, we spend so much time together over the course of four years, you have to care about the guys next to you, and our players do that. That’s why we’ve been successful. It’s more than football.”

A year after taking over the gridiron program in 2018, LaSala helped Woodbridge win a single-season school-record 10 games (the 1930 squad recorded nine victories) while leading the Barrons to their first sectional final appearance in 22 years and first division title in 28 seasons. The program is coming off its fourth consecutive playoff appearance.

“From the moment I stepped in there, the kids have been unbelievable,” LaSala said. “From the administration to the players, it’s been a total team effort from the top down. Our coaches genuinely care about the kids first. Once players find that trust and know we care about them and their futures, everything else comes second nature. They don’t hesitate when we ask them to do stuff.”

More: Marisa Rose Bowl returns, will benefit children in need

Whether that’s committing to offseason training or participating in community service projects such as those that accompany being a Marisa Rose Bowl participant, Woodbridge players stand ready and willing to assist.

'It really always puts things in perspective'

The Marisa Tufaro Foundation will be donating a share of the proceeds from this year’s game to PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick and the Edison-based Lakeview School, a program of the New Jersey Institute for Disabilities. Both were the charity all-star game’s beneficiaries over the first 27 years.

Marisa Rose Bowl players and cheerleaders were offered the option of volunteering to assist at a carnival at the children’s hospital or spending classroom time with students at the Lakeview School. LaSala has participated in the latter as an all-star player and coach.

“I’ve had a few different opportunities to go to the Lakeview School and it was a very eye-opening experience,” LaSala said. “It really always puts things in perspective to be able to count your blessings and appreciate what you have.”

More: Lakeview School students inspire Autoland Classic participants

Woodbridge previously hosted the charity all-star football contest in 2016 and 2018. The Barrons look forward to once again showcasing Nicholas A. Priscoe Stadium, which underwent a massive renovation less than a decade ago. The venue has drawn more than 5,000 spectators at least 13 times including a record crowd of 12,000 for a 1961 football game against Edison.

“I think we have a great facility that we love to show off,” Ward said. “We love the spirit of the game because it’s an all-star game and it also fosters community service. I think our players and cheerleaders are motivated to do an extra special job because it’s a home game for them.”

Woodbridge has donated proceeds from ticket sales to multiple season-opening football games to The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, and the high school’s cheerleading and dance squads recently conducted a food drive for the nonprofit.

Woodbridge donated its facilities and volunteered its staff to host the Greater Middlesex Conference All-Star girls and boys basketball games, with all proceeds from the doubleheader benefiting The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.

The school community conducted the Marisa Tufaro Classic bowling tournament as a fundraiser for the foundation and a toy drive that enabled the nonprofit to donate thousands of toys to pediatric patients during the holiday season.

The high school’s administration conducted a Pictures with Santa event that generated funds and gift cards for The Marisa Tufaro Foundation to donate to families in need during the holiday season, and also hosted the Tecmo Bowl for Tufaro, a retro football video game tournament which raised money for the nonprofit.

Student-athletes and coaches from Woodbridge’s soccer, golf, swimming, wrestling, and baseball teams are among those from the high school who have joined others in supporting The Marisa Tufaro Foundation.

Woodbridge high school fully funds in Marisa’s honor and memory the Woodbridge High School Marisa Tufaro Memorial Scholarship, awarded annually to two exceptional Woodbridge seniors who strive for excellence academically, athletically or in the arts, who overcame adversity (not limited to medical challenges) and who epitomize the caring spirit that the Tufaro family believes makes the Woodbridge school community special.

Born with a severe cardiac defect, Marisa Tufaro 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.

The daughter of longtime Edison Township Public Schools educator Cyndi Tufaro and former Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com sportswriter Greg Tufaro, Marisa Tufaro was hospitalized for more than two years and maintained hundreds of doctor’s appointments.

An honor roll student involved in myriad extracurricular activities, she led a courageous and inspirational life.

Joe Martino is editor of the Courier News, Home News Tribune and MyCentralJersey.com. He can be reached at jmartino@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Woodbridge NJ schools community service creates family atmosphere