This month’s Guest Blogger is Molly Broccolo. Molly interned in Mary Cariola’s Marketing and Communications Department in Summer and Fall of 2025. Molly is from Webster, NY and a senior at the University of Rochester. Molly is a pitcher on the UR Yellowjackets varsity softball team and works at the Athletic Center on campus. She is involved in VSAAC, the Varsity Student Athlete Accommodation Committee. She will graduate in May 2026 with a dual degree in Marketing and Psychology.
Looking back on my time as an intern at the Mary Cariola Center, I can honestly say it was one of the most fulfilling experiences I have had. Mary Cariola became a community I will always want to be part of.
My interest in Mary Cariola began before I even applied. A teammate had interned here in 2024, and our whole team volunteered at Christmas. Just being in that environment made me curious about joining. From my very first meeting with Marketing and Communications Director Greg Kamp, I knew I was in the right place; his passion for the mission was contagious. After I accepted the offer, Greg and the team even came to watch my teammate and I play softball. This showed me how much they care.
The marketing team kept things lively every day. I learned a little bit of everything from each person, and we always found time for laughs and conversations. Big shoutout to my summer co intern Alex, we tackled projects together and taught each other more than we realized.
Every day brought something new. Media relations became one of the areas where I grew writing press releases and creating media alerts. My first success was attracting the media to Cariola’s “Eat, Drink, and Be Mary” leadership donor event. Greg always gave us great feedback and never missed a chance to remind us how proud he was of the work we were doing.
Social media and design were another highlight. I created graphics for our website, newsletter, and social pages, and loved brainstorming creative ideas.
What made this journey even more special was being asked to stay through the fall. I volunteered at one of Mary Cariola’s biggest events, Walking on Sunshine 2025. Events like these were not just fun, but they showed how big the heart of this organization is, and how powerful community support can be.
This internship wasn’t about learning and applying marketing skills; it was about being part of something bigger. I am walking away with a stronger understanding of nonprofit marketing, a deeper appreciation for teamwork, and countless memories.
I would like to thank Greg, Joanne, Cameron, Allie, and Alex for making these last eight months a wonderful experience. I am grateful for everything you taught me and excited to bring these insights into my future.
