New Jersey Native, Marisa Petroro, to Receive “Woman of the Year” Honor

Famous as Deal or No Deal Suitcase Holder #18, Marisa is being given the honor because she is an Italian-American celebrity who is recognized as being a positive role-model for the Italian-American youth. As a cancer survivor of Rhabdomyosarcoma (a rare childhood cancer that affects the muscles), Marisa volunteers her free time to helping people who have been diagnosed with cancer and are undergoing chemotherapy. Because Marisa is so outspoken about her battle with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a contestant on Deal or No Deal donated 10% of his winnings to the organization that helped her cause - The Tomorrow’s Children Fund.

“This recognition has been a very humbling experience,” said Petroro. “With the freedom that comes with acting, I’m always looking for other ways to impact the public in a deeper, more meaningful way.”

On the big screen in 2007, Marisa played the edgy girlfriend of Paul Rudd (40 Year Old Virgin, Anchorman) in Comedy Central’s hit movie Reno 911!: Miami. She is also starring in upcoming film Everybody Wants to Be Italian, a story about how two non-Italians pretend to be Italian to win each other’s hearts in Boston’s North End, slated to hit theaters in September.

A local celebrity, Marisa has won multiple New Jersey beauty pageant crowns and in 1996 won the title of Miss Italia USA and placed in the Top Five for the title of Miss Italia World that same year (she is first generation Italian and Argentinean).

Earlier this year she was also asked to be the Commencement Speaker at her alma mater, Kean University, in Union.

“New Jersey is my home and as a public figure I will continue to do my best to let the world know what a wonderful place it is.”

The Center for Italian and Italian-American Culture is an ever growing and evolving non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the culture and heritage of Italians and Italian-Americans. The Center has offered quality educational and cultural programming in New Jersey for more than a decade.

Marisa will be speaking at the Center’s 16th Annual event. Tickets for this fundraising gala are being sold and proceeds from the event fund The Center's numerous programs.

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