Maria is a recent graduate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies. She is a Fundraising & Development Intern on the Non-Event Giving Team and has loved her time forging relationships with donors, patients, champions, volunteers, and fellow staff mates. Before joining the intern program, Maria served on the executive board of IlliniThon, University of Illinois’ Dance Marathon, as the Director of Member Engagement. Her experience with IlliniThon and ZERO combined with her personal experience with cancer in her family has given her the passion and drive to work for non-profit organizations that focus on bettering the lives of patients and families who have been affected by cancer or other life-threatening diseases.