Lehigh County Coordinator
Maria Samaritano
maria@ccoca.org

Maria grew up in the Lehigh Valley, went to St. Louis for college, and returned to Pennsylvania after completing graduate school.  Maria developed a passion for helping kids in foster care while she was in college.  At that time, she volunteered and later worked at a group home for young children in foster care.  A few years after returning to Pennsylvania, Maria became a foster parent to a child who lived with her for approximately a year and a half.  Maria also provided respite care for several foster families.  Maria is married, and she and her husband have one biological son.  Maria worked for many years as a pediatric physical therapist and became a stay-at-home mom when her son was born.  Maria feels honored to be a part of the Pennsylvania Orphan Care Alliance's team, and she is excited to see what will happen when Christians from churches across Lehigh County join together to support local families.