Melissa Ley Marshall is one of KidWorks’ most steadfast supporters and volunteers. She was honored as our March 2018 “Volunteer of the Month.” Melissa co-leads our Young Professionals for KidWorks. She’s a First Vice President at CBRE in Newport Beach and brings her leadership skills and management experience to every aspect of her engagement with KidWorks. When she was named a Volunteer of the Month, Melissa said, “I truly believe that KidWorks is changing the projections of these young students’ lives. KidWorks is providing them with the tools to grow personally and the support to be able to attend college and start professional careers. I have always been passionate about children because they are going to shape the world in the future.”
Name: Melissa Ley Marshall
City: Newport Beach, CA
Role at KidWorks: Co-Lead of the Young Professionals for KidWorks & volunteer
How did you first become involved with KidWorks? A colleague of mine at CBRE invited me to the KidWorks Golf Tournament back in 2015, and once I heard a story of one of the students, I knew I wanted to be involved from then on. I was drawn to KidWorks because they support students in Santa Ana not only in their education, but in their personal development as well. The success rate of students completing the program, graduating high school and going to college far outpaced the stats of other programs, speaking to the impact KidWorks is making.
Share the most meaningful experiences you’ve had at KidWorks? What made them impactful to you?
Every year my CBRE colleagues, other young professionals and I host a holiday carnival for the KidWorks preschoolers. It is always such a joy to not only see the smiles on the student’s faces, but my friends and colleagues as well! CBRE has a long standing relationship with KidWorks, and I am honored to continue the tradition of the partnership between CBRE and KidWorks.
Can you talk about some of the biggest obstacles KidWorks' programming overcame when you were involved?
COVID was a very challenging time for many including the students and families at KidWorks. KidWorks rallied behind the students during this time, by providing the students with items they needed to be able to study at home including tablets and desks. It was incredible to see the amount of financial support KidWorks received during this time from donors.
What does KidWorks mean to you? Looking back, how did KidWorks help to shape your life? How did KW help to influence the person you are today?
I am always so inspired by the students at KidWorks. They are eager to learn and have big aspirations, even at young ages. KidWorks makes these dreams a reality, one step at a time, and when I look at these students I see our future doctors, attorneys, teachers and more.
What are your dreams for KidWorks over the next 10, 20, or 30 years?
My dream for KidWorks is that they continue to make an impact in student’s lives, and continue to create a lasting change and impact to the community of Santa Ana. It would be amazing to one day say that KidWorks’ students have a 100% graduation rate from a 2 or 4 year university!