Press conference will kick off Marisa Rose Bowl charity all-star football game

Players and cheerleaders participating in the Marisa Rose Bowl, sponsored by Bellamy and Sons Paving, will be introduced during a press conference Monday at North Brunswick High School.

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 its beneficiaries since 1994.

The Marisa Tufaro Foundation announced last week it will be donating a share of proceeds from this year’s game to PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital of 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 initial beneficiaries.

Rebranded last summer as the Marisa Rose Bowl, the event made a triumphant return to the gridiron after the pandemic had derailed the game for the two previous years.

The intra-county contest, which will be played at Woodbridge High School’s Nicholas A. Priscoe Stadium on June 29, showcases the top graduating seniors from Middlesex County high schools.

Journalists from media partner MyCentralJersey.com, the online home of the Courier News and Home News Tribune, will provide coverage of Monday’s Marisa Rose Bowl press conference.

The game’s official videographer, Joe DaRold, will also provide highlights. Korbid Thompson of King James Radio Network, will introduce the players and cheerleaders as the official game rosters are unveiled.

Game founder and director Marcus Borden, a New Jersey Football Coaches Association and New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee, will serve as master of ceremonies.

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

During the Pines Manor Marisa Rose Bowl Press Conference, players and cheerleaders will:

• Enjoy a light meal courtesy of the Pines Manor

• Have their head shots taken for the official game program

• Meet their coaches

• Hear from guest speakers

• Learn about the game’s namesake and beneficiaries

Since its inception less than six years ago, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has made a profound impact, donating more than a quarter of a million dollars to fulfill its mission of assisting pediatric patients and other children in need.

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.

In addition, The Marisa Tufaro Foundation has awarded $26,500 in academic scholarships to 38 high school graduates, several of whom were football stars or cheerleaders at Middlesex County high schools.

The Marisa Tufaro Foundation is committed to being a source of comfort to pediatric patients, a financial resource for their families, and a provider of funds and opportunities for underserved children.

Marisa Rose Tufaro, a lifelong Edison resident, survived six open-heart surgeries and a heart transplant before succumbing to a rare form of cancer in 2017 following a valiant battle. She was just 13 years old.

Despite being hospitalized for more than two years and maintaining hundreds of doctor’s appointments, Marisa Rose was an honor roll student involved in myriad extracurricular activities who lived a vibrant life that inspired.

Borden credited Joe Bellamy, owner of Bellamy and Sons Paving in Piscataway, with infusing new life into the all-star game as its sponsor.

“He knows all about our event and what we’ve done,” said Borden, noting Bellamy’s sons Joey and Rocco both played in the charity all-star game. “I know that Joe and his family have been involved in youth and high school sports for a long time. Joe has a history of giving back and supporting others. It was a pleasant surprise to see he would want to help us continue what we do in our effort to make a difference in the community.”

Through Bellamy’s sponsorship, players will be clad in custom-made uniforms with their names embroidered on the back of the game jerseys. The uniform’s purple and white scheme reflects The Marisa Tufaro Foundation’s official colors. Team Marisa will don purple jerseys with white pants. Team Rose will sport white jerseys with purple pants. Both sets of jerseys and pants are adorned with wings reflecting Marisa Rose's presence as an angel.

“To be connected with the game, especially with (Marisa Rose’s) name attached to it, is an honor,” Joe Bellamy said. “I always felt the game was a great platform, and Marisa’s foundation is synonymous with anything to help children and young athletes, so this is a big deal for us.”

The foundation was established in loving memory of Marisa Rose, the daughter of longtime Edison Public Schools educator Cyndi Tufaro and former Home News Tribune and Courier News sportswriter Greg Tufaro, who as a reporter was an integral part of the all-star game since its inception nearly three decades ago.

Players and cheerleaders will gather for a pregame dinner and celebration June 28 in Edison at the Pines Manor, which joins Adidas and Metro Team Sports as the event’s additional sponsors.

The first of five practice sessions for the game will be conducted June 23 at Nicholas A. Priscoe Stadium. Details of community service projects involving game participants will soon be announced.

Central Jersey Sports Radio will broadcast the game. Mike Pavlichko will provide live play-by-play at cjsportsradio.com.

Tickets for the Marisa Rose Bowl can be purchased for $10 at the gate on game day or at Nicholas A. Priscoe Stadium during regularly scheduled practices.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ football: Press conference will kick off Marisa Rose Bowl