Marisa is an Arts Advocate and the founder of the Dream, Believe, Achieve! Scholarship Program. Started in 2010 in Cleveland, Ohio, the program received a $5,000 grant from the Cleveland Foundation to provide mentorship and financial assistance to college-bound high school students. The program has touched the lives of more than 400 students in both Cleveland and Chicago, and 11 students have received $500 scholarships for college.
Since moving back to Chicago in 2011, Marisa has increased her support of the Merit School of Music (her former music school). She organized a large-scale fundraiser for the school in 2012 called “Fashion of the Opera”. This glamorous evening of opera and fashion took place at the Intercontinental Magnificent Mile hotel.
Marisa also spends her time as an arts educator. She was the Choir Director at Josephinum Academy High School from 2012-2014, and is currently on staff as a Substitute Teacher at the Merit School of Music.
