Marian senior Isabella Denipoti is a remarkable young woman deeply involved in her community. At Marian, she has been a member of the field hockey, ski team, the Spanish Honors Society, and the Mind and Heart Literary Magazine team. However, her initiative, HalloWINaSmile, is what truly sets her apart. 

Inspired by her best friend, Vittoria, Isabella co-founded HalloWINaSmile, an organization dedicated to bringing the joy of Halloween to children in need. Their idea stemmed from their shared love of dressing up and the desire to provide underprivileged kids with the same magical Halloween experience. 

Isabella collects and sorts Halloween costumes, working closely with schools and donors in the area, such as Marian, Mercy, Brother Rice, and St. Hugo. Isabella's dedication and careful attention to detail ensure that each costume finds its way to a child in need. HalloWINaSmile benefits charities like Cass Community in Detroit and Grace Center of Hope's Children Center in Pontiac. 

The impact of HalloWINaSmile can be seen in the heartwarming stories of the children who receive costumes. Isabella shared, "The director at GCH told us about a little girl that really wanted to be a cat for Halloween and that it would mean the world if we could find her that costume. I remember looking through all the costumes until the night before we were supposed to make the delivery and finally found the cat costume in her size. The director shared how excited the little girl was to see that she got to be a cat. Situations like these remind me how I felt when I got to be what I wanted for Halloween, which is exactly why my friend and I wanted to start HalloWINaSmile in the first place.” 

Isabella's work has touched the lives of countless children, and the community's overwhelming support, with nearly 800 costumes collected since 2020, reaffirms the importance of small acts of kindness. Isabella Denipoti is a shining example of how one individual's passion can transform the lives of many and spread smiles during Halloween and beyond. 

Isabella's HalloWINaSmile initiative reflects Marian's enduring commitment to service, showcasing the profound impact an individual can make on the lives of many and exemplifying the spirit of giving that is an integral part of the Marian community.