Helping other people is so much more to Maria Zapata than simply checking a box and saying, “I helped the community.”
No, for this high school senior in Houston, Texas, improving the lives of her neighbors is a thing of beauty.
And Maria’s neighborhood isn’t limited to state lines. Jennifer and I quickly learned this when we – a couple living in Michigan – received an email from this 17-year-old we’ve never met.
Maria has a great story to tell, and we all have the opportunity to become part of her Multiple Sclerosis storyline.
You see, she created the online fundraising campaign “Helping is Art.” Her mom is a talented artist who has created five replica impressionist paintings by Van Gogh, Monet and Pissarro. The paintings are available through the online raffle. Tickets are $10 each, and the raffle will close in early May.
“I figured this is a beautiful way of creating a link between artwork and helping other people, which I also consider to be an art that must be done more frequently by our global community,” Maria told me.
Her fundraising goal is $2,500, and all proceeds will benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Naturally, Jennifer and I were curious about:
A) What led a senior from The Village School in Houston, Texas, to reach out to two bloggers in Michigan; and
B) How did she get involved with MS fundraising to begin with?
Maria was all in when we asked her if she could tell us more about herself. Here are the insights to her story as to why she is passionate about helping her neighbors and, more specifically, members of the MS community.
Tell us a little bit about yourself (family members, where you live, etc.)
I live in Houston with my parents and my 14-year-old brother, Victor. We are originally from Spain, but we have lived all over the place! I have lived in Houston, Switzerland, Holland, and Spain.
How did you get involved with the National MS Society?
My school volunteers annually in the MS150. We help with passing out water and snacks to the incoming bikers. In my sophomore year, I simply volunteered to be part of my high school team. In my junior year, I was the leader of my high school team and was in contact with the MS Society staff to make sure that my school’s team would have tasks on the day of the bike race.
What led you to make this your fundraising raffle?
I did not want this fundraiser to simply be another ‘help me raise funds’ fundraiser. I wanted it to be meaningful. I find volunteering to be such a heartwarming experience, and, for me, the interaction between people who volunteer with those who will receive the help is a form of art.
Why is it important for you to do this?
My aunt had MS for 28 years of her life. She passed away in March 2017, and it impacted my entire family. My motivation to volunteer with MS the previous years was her. Now that she’s gone, my motivation has only grown stronger. This fundraiser is to honor her and the impact she had on my life, while at the same time helping make a change, even if it’s a small one, for the future of families impacted by MS.
What do you hope this fundraising effort will achieve?
I have seen what Multiple Sclerosis does to families and what it does to individuals, and I just hope that the funds raised go towards helping them have a better life or towards research that could hopefully find cures in the future.
What are your next steps after high school?
My plans are to study business and psychology in college. I am still waiting for some colleges to give me their responses, but I would like to attend Northeastern University, the University of Texas at Austin, or the University of Pennsylvania.