A Fresh Take on CCI Internship Diaries with Our Freshman, Molly Duffy

Photo courtesy of Molly Duffy. Here is Molly enjoying her time outdoors!

Every time we get to create a CCI Internship Diaries feature, it’s exciting. We get to connect with students from all across campus, from seniors to sophomores, and today we’re especially excited to introduce one of our standout freshmen, Molly Duffy.

Molly’s college journey brought her all the way from Washington to sunny Orange, California. When it came time to choose where to go, she was deciding between the East Coast and the West, but she ultimately couldn’t pass up the beauty and energy of California. Now she’s already beginning to carve out a path for herself. As a Business Marketing major with a minor in Creative and Cultural Industries, Molly has a growing interest in the advertising world and a clear sense of what she wanted to explore in that realm.

Fashion is one of her biggest sources of inspiration. She’s drawn to the fashion, marketing, and beauty industries, and is especially interested in how brands bring their ideas to life. Whether it’s large scale brand activations at events like Coachella or the way certain companies style and market their products, Molly is fascinated by the creativity behind it all. As she explains, “I’m especially drawn to the creative side of advertising, particularly how brands like Free People curate their visual identity and market their products. While I enjoy online shopping as a consumer, I’m even more interested in the strategy behind it, especially how brands effectively target and engage specific audiences.”

She’s someone who finds inspiration in everything around her and moves through the world with a really open and curious mindset. Even as a freshman, she’s already taken steps to start building her resume and getting real experience. But before jumping straight into advertising and marketing, Molly wanted to take a step back and explore something different, just to see what the nonprofit world is really like. Now, she’s working as an Events and Development Intern at the Ronald McDonald House Orange County, a nonprofit organization that provides housing, meals, and support services to families with children receiving medical treatment.

So with that, let’s get into it and hear what her experience in the nonprofit space has been like so far.

Photo courtesy of Molly Duffy. Here is Molly taking in the beautiful scenery. 

What has your internship experience been like?

MD: I’m currently an Events and Development Intern with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Orange County, and it’s been such a hands on experience. I discovered the opportunity through the internship emails from Wilkinson, and it immediately stood out. In this role, I get to be involved in a little bit of everything, from fundraising and event planning to donor relations, communications, and even some database work behind the scenes. Every day looks a little different, which I really love. Sometimes I’m juggling multiple projects at once, so I’m learning how to stay organized and adapt quickly while working with all kinds of people. It’s been really rewarding to see how much goes into running a nonprofit and creating events that actually make an impact. Overall, it’s given me a genuine feel for what it means to do mission driven work.

What’s something you’re working on that you’re excited about?

MD: Right now, I’m working on one of our biggest events of the year, Walk for Kids. It’s our largest fundraiser, with a goal of raising around $400,000, and it really brings the community together. People can join teams, fundraise, and take part in a 1.5 mile walk that supports children and families going through medical treatment. The event itself is honestly so fun. It’s very family friendly and feels more like a community festival than a fundraiser. There are booths, games, giveaways, inflatable activities, reptile encounters, and even photo ops with superheroes. It’s one of those events where you can really feel the energy and purpose behind it while still having a great time. On my side, I’ve been helping with the Happy Hugs, which is our monthly giving program. Members get special perks at the event, like access to a dedicated area with food and activities. Most of my work has been reaching out to supporters over email and encouraging sign ups, and I also got to do a full venue walkthrough to help plan how everything will be set up. It’s been really cool to see how much goes into making an event like this happen, from the big picture creative ideas to all the small logistical details. More than anything, it’s been really meaningful to be part of something that brings people together for such a good cause.

What’s something you’ve learned that’s really stuck with you?

MD: Definitely learning about workplace culture and how different environments function. Since it’s a nonprofit, there’s such a strong sense of positivity and support, and it really shapes how everyone works together. I’ve also been surprised by how creative fundraising can be. For example, working on ideas like the Happy Hugs subscription has shown me how much thought goes into engaging donors in meaningful and innovative ways. On a personal level, I’ve also learned a lot about balancing multiple tasks at once. There are moments where I’m juggling different projects, so I’m figuring out how to stay organized, manage my time, and adapt to different working styles.

What has CCI meant to you so far, and what would you say to someone considering it?

MD: To me, the Creative and Cultural Industries is all about taking your work to the next level creatively and learning how to look at things from different perspectives. It pushes you to think differently in a way that a lot of other classes don’t, and it really expands how you approach ideas and problem solving. And if I had to give someone advice about joining CCI, I would say just do it. I’ve already learned so much in my short time here. If you value creativity and want to explore it in a more intentional way, it’s absolutely worth it.

Photo courtesy of Molly Duffy.

There you have it, CCI students. That wraps up our ninth installment of the CCI Internship Diaries, and honestly, we couldn’t be more excited to keep sharing these stories with you. Molly is such a great example of a freshman who is already stepping up, saying yes to opportunities, and figuring things out as she goes. From taking CCI 203, Contemporary Issues in Creative and Cultural Industries with Ryan Haley and diving into content creation and social media strategy, to closing out her first year with a nonprofit internship experience, she’s already exploring what her path could look like in a really intentional way. We are so proud of Molly and so grateful she joined us to share her journey. If you have an internship you’d like to feature, or know someone who does, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us on Instagram @ccichapman or email our social media coordinator at erosas@chapman.edu