Hello, my name is Claudia and I am the mother of a very talented, hardworking and  goal oriented young lady. The first one in the family to go to college and graduating from college in a few months.

Marissa, never had a fun childhood she grew up reading books, attending to summer schools for gifted children.Learning science and poetry while other children her age where just having fun. Having to work to support my three children I had little time to spend with her. On 2011 she was accepted into 5 different colleges but decided to attend to UCLA. Selected from a lot of applicants she started to attend to university on June 2011 before regular school year began. Since then she has been working hard not only to keep her grades but doing volunteer work for causes that she loves and believes.She had to mix cement and dig holes to build a house for disadvantaged families with" Habitat for Humanity". Every summer she raised money to help deprived children from disfunctional  homes to attend " Unicamp" summer camp and volunteer her time too.She was a volunteer at "Mobile Clinic Project @ UCLA & School of Medicine" helping homeless individuals to receive medical care in the Los Angeles area. I can go on telling you all the programs that she joined to help make this a better world and you know what? she walks everywhere, even when is raining hard, she goes to complete her task and fulfill her duties with the less fortunate.

She will graduate this June with honors, she wants to be a Lawyer to continue to help individuals who can't afford one.You may ask, "if she is graduating from a good university, she can get a good job" NO, she applied for a job @ LA  Superior Court where she could build up experience, she can pay her school loans and study for her admission test for Law Schools.She already does internship hours there. Marissa needs reliable transportation to go to work and to her volunteer work to continue her journey. She needs your help to reach her dreams, she needs money to purchase a used reliable car. 

I know that my request is selfish,out there are hundred of people having greater needs, for their health, for medicines to save their life and here I am asking for money for a car....is not just a car...it is safety for Marissa, is helping a young lady who quietly gone through these four years...running to make it from one place to other to be on time to help other disadvantaged human souls to alleviate their suffreing. Helping Marissa is helping a thousand more...

I never thought that I will be asking for help from people that I don't even know, but I need your help for someone who helped others without asking something for herself. I am in a situation that I can't do this on my own. Lost my job on June 2011. Was hit by a car while I was having lunch inside a restaurant and did not have health insurance at that time, have medical bills.I used to work for non-profit organizations for the last 25 years helping homeless families and victims of domestic violence and now I am trying to touch your heart with this request. A vehicle may not be important for other people but for Marissa it will make her life easier an it will help to attend to all her volunteer activities and work.

I feel confident that Marissa's story will touch your heart and will help her accomplish her dreams of becoming a lawyer and continue her work trying to make this world a better place, one individual at time.

With all my heart I want to say, Thank You! just for reading Marissa's story and for all your help!

Thanks a million.