Who We Are
We are Marin’s family. Our mission is to honor Marin’s memory and virtues by advancing scholarships, awards, and other initiatives that embody her values of selflessness and kindness. Through these efforts, the foundation aims to contribute positively to society and inspire others to follow Marin’s example, ultimately striving to make a meaningful impact and improve the world.
News & Posts
Would you like us to notify you of any updates? Feel free to let us know, and we’ll keep you informed.
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Marin Story – Addy Placko
On the first anniversary of Marin’s passing, we asked everyone who ever had any opportunity to meet Marin to share their stories with us. Thank you, Addy, for allowing us to share it with others. How did you know Marin: I met Marin through lacrosse back in the IGLA days in about second grade and…
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Marin Story – Anonymous
On the first anniversary of Marin’s passing, we asked everyone who ever had any opportunity to meet Marin to share their stories with us. Thank you for allowing us to share it with others. How did you know Marin: Old teammate Second City When I first joined Second City, I never really felt like I fit…
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Marin Story – Katy Morris
On the first anniversary of Marin’s passing, we asked everyone who ever had any opportunity to meet Marin to share their stories with us. Thank you, Katy, for allowing us to share it with others. How did you know Marin: Best Friend One night, after having just enjoyed (talked through and happily left early) one of…
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Marin Story – Maddy Kaspar
On the first anniversary of Marin’s passing, we asked everyone who ever had any opportunity to meet Marin to share their stories with us. Thank you, Maddy, for allowing us to share it with others. How did you know Marin: Friend I’ve known Marin since we were 5. I’ve played barbies with her at recess,…
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Marin Story – Sadie Magnani
On the first anniversary of Marin’s passing, we asked everyone who ever had any opportunity to meet Marin to share their stories with us. Thank you, Sadie, for allowing us to share it with others. How did you know Marin: I met her through lacrosse and other mutual friends If I truly had to write…
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Marin Story – Ellie Ewalt
On the first anniversary of Marin’s passing, we asked everyone who ever had any opportunity to meet Marin to share their stories with us. Thank you, Ellie, for allowing us to share it with others. How did you know Marin: Friend and teammate I met Marin in second-grade Chinese immersion class. Having just moved from…
Get to Know Marin
Marin was a multi-faceted person who embraced life with enthusiasm. Born on October 22, 2006, her vibrant spirit shone brightly from the beginning until her unexpected passing in a tragic accident on January 25, 2024, at the age of 17. She is survived by her loving family: her parents, Bridget and Mike, and her brother Nick.
Marin was outgoing and optimistic.
After Marin’s brother Nick was accepted into Colorado School of Mines, Marin enthusiastically agreed she’d also go to college in Colorado. She always loved Colorado and couldn’t wait to enjoy the mountains again.
As we checked out different campuses, Marin couldn’t contain her excitement. Each visit was like opening a new chapter in her life, full of anticipation and eagerness for what was to come. Meeting new people and chasing her dreams thrilled her. Her enthusiasm showed how ready she was for new challenges and how much she believed in the amazing opportunities ahead.
Marin was a foodie and had a deep appreciation for food, ranging from humble dishes like ramen to the heights of ultra high-end cuisine. Her culinary adventures took her to renowned establishments such as Belcanto in Lisbon and Sepia in Chicago to the hawker centers of Singapore and restaurants in Hong Kong only frequented by locals.
Despite her refined palate, Marin also held a special fondness for salt and vinegar potato chips, where she was a self-appointed expert. She also loved to cook and perfectly executed authentic egg drop soup, lava cake, and banana bread.
Marin was kind, generous and empathetic.
Marin spent considerable time volunteering. Volunteering is not just about donating time; it’s a selfless act that demonstrates a commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others and in the community at large.
Her involvement in volunteer activities stems from a genuine desire to help. Marin’s dedication to giving back underscores the importance of empathy and social responsibility. Her example encourages others to look beyond themselves and to actively engage in making the world a better place.
Marin loved to travel.
Travel often opens doors to new friendships, sparks curiosity, and fosters personal growth. For Marin, each journey was an opportunity to learn, connect, and embrace the richness of different places and people. Whether exploring bustling cities, serene natural landscapes, or historic sites, she undoubtedly cherished the adventure and the stories each destination offered. Being a foodie, exploring new foods and flavors was not just a part of the journey but an essential aspect of immersing herself in different cultures. The two places she couldn’t wait but wasn’t able to visit were Italy and Japan.
Marin was highly principled.
Marin was a natural at practicing pragmatic kindness, effortlessly blending compassion with practicality. Marin’s dedication to her principles in the face of today’s many influences on young people shows her strong character and integrity. Despite the pressures of social media trends and societal expectations, she stayed true to herself.
Marin’s steadfast integrity came from her strong personal values and ethics, which guided how she made decisions and treated others. Whether in sports, school, or just everyday life, Marin always stuck to being honest, kind, and respectful—something many of us work towards our whole lives.
Marin had a great sense of humor.
Marin’s humor was infectious—quick, witty, and self-deprecating. She never took herself too seriously and her ability to find laughter in everyday moments made her a delightful presence, lighting up any room with her charm.
Like everything else about Marin, her taste in humor was eclectic, evident in her preference for shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine, movies such as Jojo Rabbit, and the quirky humor of Between Two Ferns. She even had a soft spot for punny dad jokes on occasion.
Marin Stories
Marin touched countless lives with her positivity during the short 17 years she was with us. While our family always knew she was special, we’ve come to realize how many others were fortunate to see her in the same light.
January 2025 Marin Stories
She has always been this vibrant, bubbly, vivacious soul so full of life and love. Her light shines so brightly. She is strong, intelligent, fun loving, loyal, generous and so much more. Her compassion and empathy for others is evident in every act of kindness she has shared. She’s a giver and a doer. I picture in my mind her beautiful smile, her joyful and happy spirit. Her character and integrity speak milestones. I always admired her work ethic. One of the gifts I will always treasure most is her soul. She’s a people person who would give anyone the shirt off her back. She cared deeply and invested deeply. Family was everything. I love the way her eyes sparkled. She could light up a room like no other. Marin had a wonderful sense of humor and spread happiness like sunshine. She’s a gift.
Barbara Floyd, many people’s favorite teacher (retired)
I remember so vividly the happiness that Marin’s visits brought to our dear friend Olga. Chronologically, they were separated by 8 decades. Spiritually, I don’t think a sheet of paper would have slid between them. …I pray there is some comfort in knowing that Olga, to whom she brought great joy, reminded your daughter and sister that “Jesus loves you, and so do I”.
Jack LeVan
The first time I met Marin was on my driveway. She helped load frozen meat products in the Community Meal freezer. Gentleness comes to my mind when I think of her. Of course she was polite, respectful, kind and willing to do any tasks assigned. What a privilege to have had such a remarkable daughter, sister, friend and person whose light shined on all of us.
Sandy Hasse, The Community Meal
Dear Bridget and Mike, you raised an incredibly kind and generous soul. Marin was an earth angel. She had an energy that everyone was drawn to. My favorite memories were at the food pantry, where she not only donated her time, but gave so much of her love. You taught her so well! I loved her smile, her laugh and those adorable outfits she put together. Marin had so much style and charisma at such a young age. Her confidence and self-assurance were all because of the love you created as a family. We are all so grateful to have known her.
Jennifer Kainz
Marin’s older brother Nick played baseball with my younger brother Will. We were 5 years apart but were drawn together by one key link, getting stuck on the bleachers of every game our siblings played. I remember playing with her on the park set at Field of Dreams, climbing the fence to pick cattails, drinking so much Gatorade from the concession stand that our mouths would stain red, and we would go home with tummy aches. I struggled to make friends my own age when I was younger and just wanted to share how blessed I was to have sweet Marin to play with during the hot summer days of our childhood.
Caroline Jensen
Thank you for allowing us to share in the life of Marin. She made all of our lives better and she will always be remembered as a kind and loving person, an example of how we all should treat other people.
Jerry Ewalt
Marin’s older brother Nick and I went to elementary together and I knew Marin through my lunch hour during my senior year. Marin never failed to make me smile and was the sweetest brightest girl anyone could know… I’ll never forget seeing her bright smile each and every day.
Jackie Corless
Scholarship & Award
We sponsor the following scholarship and award:
Marin’s Friends Scholarship
Marin valued good people and rewarded them with kindness and unconditional love if they were fortunate enough to be considered her friend. She was a multi-faceted individual who effortlessly made friends in any circumstance. Marin was known for extending invitations warmly and without discrimination, never adopting an elitist viewpoint. Her principle was simple: treating others as she wished to be treated herself. Her natural inclination would undoubtedly have continued to foster community around her. We honor Marin’s legacy by expanding her community even further and help those who share Marin’s character.
Congratulations to our Class of 2025 Recipients!
Be the #22 Award
Marin’s involvement in sports began as soon as she could kick a soccer ball or pick up a lacrosse stick. Her style of play was a reflection of her character—selfless, always prioritizing the team over personal achievements. She often assisted more than she scored, choosing to pass when it offered a higher chance of success. It was all about the win.
Marin’s inclusivity extended beyond the game; she welcomed new players and reached out to teammates others might overlook, effortlessly fostering a positive team culture through small yet significant actions. This was simply who she was.
As a society, we tend to place too much emphasis on statistics and performance milestones alone. Many student athletes, like Marin, uplift their teams by consistently “doing the right thing.” Often, multiple student athletes within a team embody these values, and their contribution to team success is invaluable. However, our current recognition practices usually happen at the end of the year and often only honor one student athlete. This sends the wrong message to our young people that these acts of integrity and leadership are not valued. We aim to change that.