Marianela, 16 years old

Wish submitted by:

Marianela has a rich past and a bright future. She entered foster care after arriving from another country and has been in foster care for several years. She has lost most of her ties to her culture. Marianela is friendly and engaged - she loves spending time with her friends and works hard on all her schoolwork. She has a great relationship with her foster mom. She loves to cook and is interested in learning to cook plates that are typical of her culture.

Last year when Marianela settled into her new foster home, she began trying to reconnect with her culture despite all odds, starting with her Quinceañera--something children with similar life stories as hers dream of having. She has been planning her Quinceañera for quite some time and is over the moon with how everything is coming together. She would love to include this beautiful dessert display and feels it will help tie all of her visions together!