Marissa Gonzalez, president and founding board member of World Eye Cancer Hope (WE C Hope) USA, is a resilient advocate for pediatric eye cancer awareness and support. Diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma at 17 months, she underwent treatment, losing her left eye before turning two. A USC Annenberg School of Communication graduate, Marissa's career spans event planning and twelve years at the USC School of Dramatic Arts. As WE C Hope's president, she orchestrated three international conferences, including the groundbreaking One Retinoblastoma World featured in Harvard University's "Global Perspectives on Ocular Oncology." Marissa contributes to the National Convergent Science Cancer Consortium, a key player in President Biden's Cancer Moonshot program. Additionally, she serves on Long Beach's Citizens Advisory Board on Disabilities, addressing diverse issues. Marissa's impactful journey, highlighted in the New York Times, propels her global advocacy, recently speaking at the International Society of Ocular Oncology Conference in Kenya. She collaborates with Know the Glow, aiding early detection in Nigeria, Nepal, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Marissa's resilience and advocacy reaches beyond borders, making her a powerful force for pediatric oncology worldwide. Marissa believes the struggles she has endured as an eye cancer patient and blind adult survivor led her to become an international advocate for pediatric oncology, effecting change here in Los Angeles and around the world.
