 In 2002, she co-founded the literacy organization Success Won't Wait Inc. when she was an 18-year-old high school senior and has been active in promoting literacy and has helped collect and redistribute over 600,000 books to communities, schools, and non-profit organizations in need.Carrieri-Russo competed in pageants for nine years prior to winning Miss Delaware USA.She was a three-time contestant in the Miss Delaware Teen USA pageant.