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Share thisStudent Spotlight: Makenzie Morrill'21 | Strategic Marketing, M.S.
Marketing Coordinator at Financial Partners of Upstate New York, a MassMutual firm
One Student Making a Difference
Makenzie Morrill'21 (MSMK) was named to Rochester’s Finest, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Class 2020, and now serves on the marketing committee for the chapter. Morrill got involved with the Western New York Cystic Fibrosis Foundation through the Great Strides Annual Walking event about two years ago when she was the team lead. She felt compelled to join because her cousin has Cystic Fibrosis (CF). He lives in Florida and her family in Florida was always very involved, so she wanted a way to bring that involvement to her family in Rochester. After becoming the team lead for Great Strides, she was nominated to be part of Rochester’s Finest. Rochester’s Finest is a young professionals network rooted in CF education and fundraising all while building interpersonal relationships and professional development.
The group is made up of many different backgrounds from the trades to top-tier financial advisors. “What makes this group so special is the mission of education and rallying behind advancements and just really working towards making a difference in the community,” she said. Individuals who are part of Rochester's Finest don't need to have a personal connection to CF, they just need a passion to drive change.
Last year for her fundraiser, she decided to run (virtually) across New York State, 400 miles from September to December. Through this journey, she not only raised money but also took the opportunity to teach others about CF and why she was running. “It was a crazy experience; I honestly didn’t know what I was getting into when I told the program director about my idea, but I am so happy that I did it and finished!”
Morrill shared that being part of Rochester’s Finest has opened many doors for her professionally. But that’s only one aspect of why she does it. She gives of herself because she wants to make a difference and through the Foundation. With medical advancements and treatments, you get to hear and see people that have been able to take advantage of these and learn about how their lives are different because of it. “That is really special to me. Even if you don't have a personal connection, you find connections through the program,” she said.
For more information on the Finest program visit https://finest.cff.org/
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