Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried will honor the Papp/Walls family as the 10th annual “Pay it Forward” recipients during his State of Robbinsville Township address.
The event will be held on on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at The Stone Terrace by John Henry’s. It’s starts at 6:30 p.m.
Lisa Papp and Tom Walls are being recognized for their remarkable efforts to care for their four nieces and nephews after the children lost both parents in the span of a year.
The children’s father, military veteran Jason Tear, died in 2023 from complications related to toxic burn pit exposure in the Middle East. Their mother, Alicia Tear, Tom’s sister, passed away suddenly in 2024.
“This incredibly resilient family is moving mountains to give their nieces and nephews an opportunity to flourish after the unimaginable trauma of losing both parents,” said Fried.
“They need our support, both financial and emotional, our compassion, our empathy, and our kindness—all things Robbinsville residents and businesses deliver in spades year after year,” Fried said.
The Papp/Walls family’s story is at the heart of Mayor Fried’s “Pay it Forward” initiative, which seeks to highlight and support local residents facing significant challenges.
Past recipients include the Shepherd family, Quilts for Comfort, Robbinsville Meals on Wheels, and other community-focused groups and individuals. Since its inception in 2015, the initiative has raised over $500,000 to help those in need.
Walls, a longtime Robbinsville volunteer coach, has temporarily relocated to Delaware to care for his nieces and nephews—Alison, 10, twin boys Xander and Gage, 8, and Lauren, 6—while still working full-time.
Meanwhile, Papp continues her role as a special education teacher at Pond Road Middle School. The couple also has two college-aged daughters, Katharine, 25, and Caroline, 18. The couple tragically lost their son, Nicholas, at the age of 18.
“I don’t know another man who would be able (or willing) to step in and do what he’s doing,” said Susan Walls Daly, Walls’ sister. “Family helps when we can, but the burden is on his shoulders 24/7.”
In anticipation of legally adopting the four children, the family’s Robbinsville home is in need of significant renovations to accommodate the larger household.
Corporate sponsorships and individual donations are being sought to help cover these costs, with sponsorship levels ranging from $500 to $25,000. Individual tickets for the event are $150, or $1,350 for a table of 10.
“You have to keep moving forward,” said Papp. “We have these four beautiful children that want an opportunity in life, and we are determined to give it to them.”
Tom Walls reflected on the challenges of the past year: “It’s been traumatic, and that comes up regularly. They need love, structure, and discipline… but their resilience has really been amazing, and so has the help we’ve received from family, friends, neighbors, church groups, and perfect strangers.”
Fundraising for this effort is now open and corporate sponsorships levels of $25,000 (Community Champion), $10,000 (Township Trailblazer), $5,000 (Hometown Hero), $2,500 (Township Partner), $1,500 (Beverage Sponsor) and $500 (We Love R’ville Neighbors Sponsor) are available. Individual tickets are $150 and $1,350 for a table of 10.
For more information on how to support the Papp/Walls family or contribute to the “Pay it Forward” campaign, contact Robbinsville Township or visit Robbinsville Township’s website.
