Marine Corps Veteran Credits Alma Mater, Union Institute & University, With Knowledge Learned To Create Foundation

Mitch Rivas, a Union Institute & University (UI&U) alumni and Marine Corps veteran,created the Maryssa Mission Foundation (MMF) while a student in the UI&U Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (MSOL) program when one of his 2-year-old twin daughters, Maryssa, passed away on November 13, 2015 due to a congenital heart issue.

“We saw firsthand the challenges that a family with a medically fragile child had to go through. We often found ourselves living in a hospital room that was four hours from home. We constantly stayed bed side with our daughter Maryssa while doctor's tried to understand and cure her uncommon diagnosis,” said Rivas. “Our stays at the hospital were met with financial struggles, periods of hopelessness, and always having a looming feeling of inadequacy as a parent, because we were being split apart from our other three growing children that longed for their parents and sister. Serving over five hundred individuals to date, Mindy and I have now committed our lives to being the blessing we prayed to receive.”

To help the families of medically fragile children, who have a heart condition, MMF formed a partnership with Cincinnati Children’s and Ronald McDonald House of Greater Cincinnati (RMH) to help with the expense of overnight lodging and presented a $10,000 check to Cincinnati Children’s on June 16 and $3,000 check to RMH on June 17.

“Our mission of ‘Being the blessing we prayed to receive’™ and providing temporary aid will extend to Cincinnati Children’s heart families through our partnership. The partnership allows our funds to travel farther by securing their rates then multiplying our donated dollar through their various lodging partners reward programs,” said MMF President Mitch Rivas.

“UI&U has played a vital role in the progress of MMF. My capstone project revolved around the strategic planning for our foundation. As we celebrate our second year of incorporation we are grateful to share our accomplishments with the university. Dr. Sublett’s talented staff executed and carried out their duties, going above and beyond the call, especially when I pondered withdrawing from the MSOL program due to Maryssa’s passing. I am forever grateful of UI&U’s part in this wonderful journey,” said Rivas.