Rising Stars: Meet Melissa Gorsuch of Fountain

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Gorsuch.

Hi Melissa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I left home at 16, and before my 17th birthday I had my daughter — who I placed for adoption and reconnected with when she turned 21. Life wasn’t easy. I’ve been homeless, abused, and lost more than I can count, but along the way, I met incredible people and found resources that helped me get back up.
I’ve been a bartender my whole life — and that job has taken me everywhere. I’ve lived in San Antonio, Las Vegas, Pittsburgh, and Colorado Springs (twice). Bartending introduced me to people from all walks of life, and I’ve heard and seen it all behind the bar.
In 2015, I met my husband Mike online. Three months later, I packed up me and my dog Rox, and moved to Pittsburgh. The people there were tough to get close to at first, but once you became a “local,” they were some of the best people you could know. Together, Mike and I volunteered, helped plan benefits, built gift baskets, and gave to whatever foundation needed a hand.
I always thought I’d bartend forever. But life had other plans.
In late 2020, my mother-in-law Joan — lovingly known as “The Dinosaur” — started having health issues. I left Colorado to move back to Pennsylvania to take care of her while Mike held things down at home. She passed in May 2021. Joan was one of the strongest, most inspiring women I’ve ever known. Even when I was running my Thirty-One Gifts business, she’d keep me on track and make sure I was working every day.
Fast forward to 2024 — life kept changing. We bought a house, got another dog, I stopped bartending (though I still make guest appearances), and my best friend, Rox, passed away. Then, after 21 years, Thirty-One announced they were closing. It hit me hard — like losing Joan all over again. I suddenly had no business, no direction, and a lot of grief.
But through that, I realized something: I wanted to help people the way others had helped me. I talked with friends, cried a lot, and slowly, the idea for World of Hearts LLC started to take shape.
By Spring 2025, I officially launched it and have partnered with a few Sponsors helping keep it free for nonprofits. October, I partnered with Ann Odle of Sparkle & Style with Park Lane and Susanna Maestas of Susanna’s Comfort Cuisine for Blingo Bingo Mini Fundraisers — each benefiting a different nonprofit every month. My first Casino Night Fundraiser, benefiting five nonprofits, is set for February 21, 2026.

My mission is simple: to bring awareness to nonprofits in Colorado Springs and, one day, around the world.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No it has not been a smooth road at all and honestly I have never taken the “smooth road” just ask my parents, I have apologized numerous times LOL.
Being poor, homelessness even though you have a job, not being able to afford new clothes for work so you do what you can to keep them “up to par” to work. Where your next meal will come from and am I going to be ok walking home tonight, because you don’t live in the best part of town and it’s after midnight. Learning life lessons mainly on your own because you are embarrassed to ask for help.
Not having confidence or feeling as educated as others, just know you are who you are, no matter what that means. I never had a voice or stood up for myself. I was the one in the back row always hiding and kept quiet when others mistreated me.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
World of Hearts LLC is connecting community and nonprofits together in every way. I am a free resource to the nonprofit by finding Sponsors who wish to donate money, time, items, or services. I help by getting their missions and needs out on social media, my website, and youtube (if I figure it out) LOL. If they need a volunteer I am there, if they need clothing, food a space or just some sharing of their events I am glad to say I try my hardest to help.
I am proud that I have learned how to get connections and talk with others about my mission, I am coming out of the darkness and telling my story by doing interviews like this one.
I am definitely set apart because I’m not looking for much in return because helping others shouldn’t come as payment. I want the people trying to know they have options and You Can Do It!

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I’ve lived through a lot of hardships, and honestly, I shouldn’t even be here — but I am. That’s why I work harder than my body wants me to, because failure isn’t an option for me. I give my all in everything I do. I’m transparent, I have no filter, and I lead with passion. My drive to help others and to succeed isn’t just for me — it’s for everyone I can lift along the way.

Pricing:

• *$250 is our first Tier of Sponsorship & goes up

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.worldofheartsllc.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldofheartsllc24/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572096844224
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-mel-gorsuch-350bbb37b/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WorldofHeartsLLC

Image Credits
Self taken