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

NORTH BRUNSWICK – Even super duper teams and dynasties go through rebuilding years. It’s just a part of sports. Turns out, it also extends to charity all-star football games.

The Bellamy and Sons Paving Marisa Rose Bowl – in fact, New Jersey’s most successful charity all-star football game – flourished for 26 years and was closing in on raising a million dollars for children in need.

Then COVID hit like a furious linebacker, knocking the wind out of the game in 2020 and 2021.

“The two years was like out of sight, out of mind,” said Marcus Borden, the event’s founder and director. “Imagine that some kids didn’t play football for two years. Some hadn’t seen an all-star game … didn’t even realize they had an all-star game around here.”

Judging by Monday night’s press conference to introduce the players and cheerleaders, well, it’s now fully front and center and on its way back as a staple and showcase destination.

Last year’s return game has helped create a buzz as it continues to grow in Year Two of the rebuild.

“It’s a great event for a great cause,” North Brunswick quarterback Frankie Garbolino said. “It’s fun to kind of get all the guys together you’ve been playing against and with for the past four years. It’s awesome.”

J.F. Kennedy senior Caitlin Ticas added, “So excited for the game in June and meeting the other players and just seeing everyone come out to support a great cause. I heard about it last year and I remember the seniors made it look so fun and that was really exciting for me to see.”

‘Not just an all-star game’

Monday, the players and cheerleaders looked like they arrived at a wedding or prom in their fashionable suits and dresses to create an elegant feel in the North Brunswick High School cafeteria. Family members attended to show support and took pictures.

Something special was brewing.

The event’s longtime cheerleading coach Colleen Meyers, the former coach at Spotswood for 28 years, introduced her squad. Korbid Thompson, a well-known broadcaster of the King James Radio Network, announced the football players. Joe DaRold, the game’s official videographer, captured highlights.

The June 29 game – moved up from mid-July – returns to Woodbridge High School’s Nicholas A. Priscoe Stadium. Once again, the top graduating seniors from Middlesex County high schools will play in an intra-county contest.

Fans can buy tickets for $10 at the gate on game day or at the stadium during regularly scheduled practices. The five practices leading to the kickoff begins June 23. Community service projects involving the game’s participants will soon be announced.

All proceeds will benefit The Marisa Tufaro Foundation, a nonprofit that assists pediatric patients and other children in need throughout the greater Middlesex County area.

The foundation recently announced it will be donating a share of the proceeds to the event’s initial beneficiaries, the PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital of New Brunswick and the Edison-based Lakeview School, a program of the New Jersey Institute for Disabilities.

“We’re not just an all-star game,” Borden said, “we’re a community event and we have been fortunate to raise $736,000 for charity.”

Borden, a former East Brunswick coach and a member of the New Jersey Football Coaches Association and New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame, noted the game’s triumphant return was made possible by the support of Joe Bellamy of Bellamy and Sons Paving in Piscataway.

The company is in its second year as the game’s sponsor. The family is thrilled to give back, especially with their connection to local football.

Joe played at Dunellen in the late 1980s and has been a longtime volunteer Pop Warner coach in Piscataway. His sons have continued the family’s gridiron legacy.

Joey Jr. played in the 2019 game and middle son Rocco played last year. The youngest son, Michael, is a freshman at Montgomery High School.

Monday, Joey Jr. addressed the participants for the family.

“We’re very excited and honored to be a part of this game,” he said. “I’d like to congratulate all the players and cheerleaders for being selected. You all should be proud of yourselves for making it to this point. You all deserved it. You all have bright futures. Continue to work hard and hope to achieve the same excellence you accomplished in high school in your future endeavors.

"As a former player myself, I can speak on how much it means to play in this game and how much it means to be a part of something this special. Remember why you’re here and always give back as much as you can and enjoy every moment. It’s great to see every year the county come together for a such a great cause. We look forward to continuing to honor Marisa’s name.”

'It’s nice to help somebody out'

The foundation honors Marisa Rose Tufaro. The 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.

She was the daughter of longtime Edison Township Public Schools educator Cyndi Tufaro and former Home News Tribune and Courier News sports writer Greg Tufaro, an integral part of the all-star game since its inception in his role as a reporter.

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.

Monday, Greg spoke poignantly of Marisa’s inspiring spirit. Another tangible reminder – the players will be wearing purple and white uniforms, the foundation’s official colors, and both sets of jerseys and pants are adorned with wings reflecting Marisa Rose's presence as an angel.

The message hit home.

“It’s nice to help somebody out,” said St. Joseph’s Rodney Fanning after the press conference. “My mom also passed away from cancer, so it’s also nice to help somebody else.”

Two other speakers Monday echoed the event is more than just a football game, which started in 1994 as the Snapple Bowl.

“You don’t even realize the hundreds and thousands of football players and cheerleaders who came before you that laid the foundation for what we do tonight,” said Venus Majeski, the Director of Development & Community Relations at New Jersey Institute for Disabilities. “We stand on their shoulders and we owe them a debt of gratitude. This is not just about the game and each one of you will come to realize that as you get to know what the Marisa Tufaro Foundation is all about and what the Lakeview School is all about and what Children’s Specialized Hospital is all about and you understand it’s about something much larger.”

Elena Herskowitz, the Director of Individual & Family Philanthropy at Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation, said her responsibility is to find individuals and organizations to support their work.

“Tonight, I feel like I hit the jackpot with all of you,” she said. “Through your involvement with the Marisa Rose Bowl each of you is doing just that. You’re changing the lives of children with special health care needs and I thank you.”

Rosters

CHEERLEADERS

Ariana Alvarado-Velasco, North Brunswick

Sinal Brooks, New Brunswick

Kyara Buckmire, Piscataway

Mackenzie Caffrey, Edison

Destiny Codrington, Perth Amboy

Anthony Costa, South River

Kamilah Cox, New Brunswick

Allison Dima, Edison

Madison Dougherty, Sayreville

Laney Dwyer, Spotswood

Bianny Galan, Perth Amboy

Jamie Gorel, Middlesex

Dominic Hilario, Perth Amboy

Emma Hochran, Sayreville

Mya Jackson, Sayreville

Laura Kozub, J.F. Kennedy

Harlee Larsen, South Plainfield

Melissa Leon-Tamara, South Plainfield

Akiva Lewis-Allen, J.F. Kennedy

Jhoanna Lopez, New Brunswick

Cameran Lowery, Piscataway

Noel Lowery, Piscataway

Betty Martinez, New Brunswick

Jade Mason, Piscataway

Gabriella Maynard, Middlesex

Madison Mohan, Colonia

Nikki Neumann, North Brunswick

Nyrah Odom, Perth Amboy

Arionna Orozco, Edison

Megan Perpente, Spotswood

Caroline Ruiz, Woodbridge

Kaylee Russo, Woodbridge

Giana Staikopoulos, Middlesex

Madeline Taub, Edison

Caitlin Ticas, J.F. Kennedy

Milan Trapp, Edison

Sydney Ward, North Brunswick

Karli Zamora, Middlesex

TEAM ROSE

Anthony Adeniji, Highland Park

Alani Ajigbotosho, North Brunswick

Isaiah Barnes, North Brunswick

Nathiel Elizondo, Perth Amboy

Manuel Faxas, Colonia

Xavier Frias, Perth Amboy

Frankie Garbolino, North Brunswick

CJ Gardner, East Brunswick

Anthony Gonzalez, Middlesex

Curtis Good, J.P. Stevens

Amanuell Gray, North Brunswick

Michael Green, South Plainfield

Marcella Iversen, J.P. Stevens

Connor Larson, Metuchen

Jaxon Marshall, Perth Amboy

Naiel McCalla, Perth Amboy

Kevin McMillion, East Brunswick

Joseph Moroney, South Plainfield

Tobias Neuberger, East Brunswick

Vincent Nguyen, South Plainfield

Aidan O'Leary, Metuchen

Saket Pabba, J.P. Stevens

Mekhi Parks, Middlesex

Katrell Pereira, North Brunswick

Gabe Perez, J.F. Kennedy

Jacob Platten, Middlesex

Michael Pomykala, Sayreville

Omar Rackley, East Brunswick

Evan Richardson, J.F. Kennedy

Mark Roche, J.F. Kennedy

Jesse Rosario, Sayreville

Angel Ruiz, J.F. Kennedy

Andrew Safara, East Brunswick

Arnold Samuels, North Brunswick

Jacob Santiago, Middlesex

Drew Schabilon, Sayreville

Ben Solimini, East Brunswick

Jared Tynes, North Brunswick

William Wilson, North Brunswick H.S

Phillip Wilson, Highland Park H.S

TEAM MARISA

Jon Baio, Edison

Brandon Bandoy, Spotswood

Kaelyb Barahona, Woodbridge

Cameron Browne, Carteret

Matt Bueno, Edison

David Caballero, New Brunswick

Brady Cavallaro, Old Bridge

Chris Chaves, Monroe

Michael Darkwah, Woodbridge

Milton Davis, Woodbridge

Rodney Fanning, St. Joseph

Dan Hennessey, Old Bridge

Ozzie Hilliard, Piscataway

JoJo Huntley, St. Joseph

Sanford James-Hill, New Brunswick

Omari Jones, St. Joseph

Joseph Lakatos, South River

Aidan Lane, Monroe

Joseph Lepore, South River

Lazarus Lisojo, Woodbridge

Varun Magadum, Monroe

Connor Manacle, Spotswood

Alex Moses, Monroe

Rob Orzol, Old Bridge

Jameel Parrott, Edison

Patrick Petscavage, Spotswood

Damarion Potts, South Brunswick

Keere Rawls, Piscataway

Antonio Rivera, Piscataway

Darren Rodman, South Brunswick

Israel Rodriguez, Edison

Selbin Sabio, Edison

Adekunle Shittu, Edison

Tejman Singh, Monroe

Dennis Smith Jr., Woodbridge

Corey Stone, Piscataway

Michael Strachan, Edison

Khiri Summers, South Brunswick

Julian Tavares, Woodbridge

Jalen Thomas, Piscataway

Napoleon Williams, Carteret

Shannon Williams, New Brunswick

Malachi Wyatt, Piscataway

Matt Yascko Jr., Edison

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Press conference kicks off Marisa Rose Bowl charity football game