Staff: Marilyn Manzo-Dawson

Marilyn Manzo is the Deputy Executive Director and Program Director of Friends of the Children-Austin, Friends of the Children’s first Texas chapter. She was born and raised in Long Beach, California. Marilyn graduated from University of California, Irvine with a B.S. in Business Economics and Sociology. After graduating Marilyn acquired nonprofit experience working as a lead staff member in a group home for adolescent youth navigating the foster care system. Marilyn moved to Austin, Texas in 2015 and led programming design and implementation in grassroots nonprofits, led early childhood outreach in Travis County, and found her passion for mentoring. Marilyn has been mentoring the same young woman for over seven years. She is also matched with a youth from Friend Austin’s inaugural group of child selection. In her free time, you can find Marilyn spending time with her fiancé, dog Dre, reading, traveling, and hiking.