We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mariana Gillen-Sanchez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Mariana, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
I was diagnosed with dyslexia in second grade, which deeply affected my learning journey. This personal experience ignited a passion in me to help others facing similar challenges. Realizing how fortunate I was to have access to tools that aided my learning, I was inspired to share these resources with others. This led to the birth of my idea for M.A.R.I. Kits, standing for “Making Awesome Reading Improvement.”
From Idea to Action:
The first step was conceptualizing what the M.A.R.I. Kits would contain – tools that had personally helped me in my struggle with dyslexia. I sought to provide these tools to other young learners, hoping to make reading easier and more enjoyable for them.
Garnering Support:
Knowing that the success of this project depended on community support, I reached out to various sponsors. The generous backing from Columbia Restaurants Group, Julie Weintraub’s Hands Across the Bay, Rice Psychology Group, TLC Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, and Target was crucial. Their support enabled me to create and distribute the kits more widely.
Collaboration and Distribution:
I partnered with United Way Suncoast to ensure the kits reached children in need, focusing on students from Kindergarten to Third Grade who attended their reading rooms or resource centers.
Navigating the Challenges:
Throughout this journey, there were numerous hurdles to overcome – from figuring out the logistics of assembling and distributing the kits to educating others about dyslexia. Each challenge was an opportunity to learn and grow.
The Impact and Recognition:
The project didn’t just stay within the local community. It gained national recognition, being featured in various news stories across the country. This exposure significantly increased awareness for the cause. Additionally, being honored by the Tampa Bay Lightning was a testament to the impact of the M.A.R.I. Kits.
Looking Ahead:
The journey continues as I now focus on writing a book to further spread awareness and help children and families grappling with dyslexia. This project, stemming from a personal challenge, has blossomed into a mission to empower others through education and support.
Mariana, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m Mariana, a 16-year-old ballet enthusiast with a dedication to helping kids conquer the challenges of dyslexia. My personal battle with dyslexia began in second grade, and the struggles I faced sparked a fire in me to extend a helping hand to others grappling with the same issues. Knowing the difference the right support can make, I embarked on a mission to share the tools and strategies that aided me through my learning journey.
Thus, the M.A.R.I. Kits were born, with “Making Awesome Reading Improvement” as the goal. These kits are crafted with care, each one brimming with items like a noise-canceling headset to block out distractions, a “Hear Myself Sound Phone” that helps kids hear themselves clearly when they read aloud, and a small whiteboard with a dry erase marker for practice without paper waste. They also contain colorful pencil grips to make writing easier, word building tiles for interactive learning, a highlighter reading strip to guide reading, and “The Alphabet War,” a book about dyslexia that offers both education and encouragement. All these tools are neatly packed into a cinch bag, making them portable and accessible.
I didn’t stop at creating these kits. I wanted to be actively involved in the change, so I volunteer weekly at a local school, dedicating my time to assist children in honing their reading skills. It’s a joy to witness their progress and to know I’m contributing to their growth.
Ballet has been my sanctuary, a place where I found confidence and grace despite my dyslexia. It’s more than just dance; it’s a way for me to connect with myself and others. Sharing this passion, I teach ballet to young children, hoping it can be for them what it has been for me—a creative outlet and a method for overcoming personal hurdles.
The M.A.R.I. Kits have garnered attention and support far and wide, thanks to the generosity of sponsors like Columbia Restaurants Group, Julie Weintraub’s Hands Across the Bay, Rice Psychology Group, TLC Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, Target, and AdventHealth. This support has been instrumental in amplifying our reach and impact.
Recognition for our efforts came not just from the local community but also through national news coverage, which helped increase awareness for our cause. An honor from the Tampa Bay Lightning stands out as a particularly proud moment, celebrating the hard work and dedication put into this project.
As I look to the future, my focus remains on raising awareness about dyslexia and expanding the reach of the M.A.R.I. Kits. My dream is to empower every child with dyslexia to not only face their learning differences but to embrace them, unlocking their full potential to thrive in learning and in life.
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
Funding the business was a multifaceted effort. Initially, it was the support of my community and generous sponsors like Columbia Restaurants Group, Julie Weintraub’s Hands Across the Bay, Rice Psychology Group, TLC Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, Target, and AdventHealth that provided the seed capital to begin creating and distributing the kits. Their belief in my vision and mission was paramount, and their financial support was the cornerstone that allowed the project to take its first steps.
But I knew that to sustain the project and expand its reach, I would need to contribute as well. So, I took on summer jobs, putting in hours of work to earn money that I could then reinvest into creating more M.A.R.I. Kits. Every paycheck from those jobs wasn’t just money earned; it was another step towards helping another child with dyslexia.
The funds from my summer jobs supplemented the donations and sponsorships, ensuring that the production of kits could continue. It was a true blend of external generosity and personal dedication that gave life to the M.A.R.I. Kits project. This hybrid approach to funding ensured that every child who needed a kit could have one, without financial constraints slowing down the mission’s progress.
This story of funding is not just about starting a business but about a community and a young girl’s determination to make a difference. It’s about turning personal struggle into communal triumph and ensuring that every step taken is a step towards empowering children with dyslexia.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
The heart of my project, M.A.R.I. Kits, beats strongest when I’m connecting with local schools. To reach the children who can benefit most from the kits, I start by reaching out to principals within my area. These conversations about my mission to assist children with dyslexia often lead to introductions with the Exceptional Student Education (ESE) specialists. These are the dedicated individuals who work daily with dyslexic students and deeply understand the kind of support these children need.
Working directly with these schools allows me to tailor the kits to fill the specific needs they have. I provide these important tools at no cost to the schools, ensuring that there are no financial barriers to access. The relationships I build with ESE specialists are instrumental in this process. They guide me on how many kits are needed and which tools will be most beneficial, ensuring that each M.A.R.I. Kit makes the biggest possible impact.
Social media has been a powerful ally in expanding my reach. People from various places, as well as schools themselves, often reach out to me after learning about my project online. They share their needs and directly request kits. This direct line of communication has been an invaluable source of new connections for my project. It’s through these messages and comments that I discover new clients — schools and families eager for the tools to help their children thrive despite the challenges of dyslexia.
In essence, the best source of new clients for me has been the combination of personalized outreach to schools and the powerful networking capabilities of social media. This dual approach allows me to meet the needs of new clients effectively and ensure that the M.A.R.I. Kits get into the hands of those who need them most.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mari_kits_pqbd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pqbd.kits
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObcygwgKA68
- Other: https://baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2023/08/25/feel-good-friday–learning-differences-super-powers?fbclid=IwAR1pe4h061WGi2jTJeL5V17CeDyDesffw92VKLwxtZFbSmoAFr2HzVoXP68 https://www.wtsp.com/article/entertainment/places/bobby-lewis-on-the-road/teen-dyslexia-kits-children-struggling-read/67-34e466a3-fd32-4d96-9209-6318ac27be08 https://fb.watch/p3mXwFrqGH/