Intern - Marie
Marie Bruck first heard about 99 Balloons through a GroupMe message from a former volunteer.
She didn’t know exactly what she was signing up for, but she said yes, and that yes shaped not only her college experience, but who she is today.
“99 Balloons means the world to me,” Marie says. “It changed my life, and I don’t say that lightly. The people involved constantly inspired me to grow in my understanding of disability and seek ways that I can make my community, wherever that may be, a more inclusive place.”
After serving as a 99B fellow for two years, Marie took on a leadership role, mentoring others through the program. Beyond meetings, she showed up to rEcess nights, bEfriend gatherings, family panels, our annual fundraiser, and more.
Today, the University of Arkansas graduate is pursuing a master’s degree in speech-language pathology at the University of Kansas. Using the same whole-person, family-centered approach she experienced at 99B, she is helping others find their voice—empowering them to communicate, build relationships, and discover the kind of belonging we all need.
“Every individual craves connection,” she says. “So often, people think individuals with disabilities don’t have the same needs or don’t value the same things, but from my experience, that is far from the truth.”
Marie plans to one day launch a rEcess site in Kansas City—creating a space where friendships can grow, where people are fully known, and where lives are changed on both sides of the relationship.
“Because where would we be if we didn’t have our friends, our community?” she asks. “That is such a large part of our everyday life, and everyone deserves that opportunity.”
Our programs are transformative for every person in the 99B community—participants, parents, siblings, staff, volunteers, and friends alike. Marie isone of many carrying our mission forward:
in NWA, Taylor Cummings is a special education teacher and bEfriend advocate and Sydney Lehnen is a disability pastor and rEcess site director and beyond, Kensie Cipolla is an inclusive hair stylist in Texas just to name a few.
This year alone, we have 47 fellows and interns, and we can’t wait to see where their lives take them.
Help us give everyone the opportunity for community, and celebrate NWA Gives with us this Thursday!
Don’t want to wait until Thursday? Early giving is open!