Jennifer Pence is the founder of Academic Springboard. Adam Feder has been a software engineer and principal architect for several startups, including VUDU and TiVo. Adam and Jen established the Windmill Giving Circle, a giving circle that supports nonprofit organizations in Silicon Valley, and supported E4FC. They have been strong supporters of Immigrants Rising since 2009. Jen has also mentored numerous staff and program participants, and twice served on the selection committee for the New American Scholars Program.

Why do you support our organization and undocumented immigrants?

We first found out about E4FC [Educators for Fair Consideration, now known as Immigrants Rising] through our Windmill Giving Circle, where Carrie Evans and Kathy Gin did a presentation.

Although we know that large scale lobbying is important and scaling up programs to reach more students is important, we are moved by contact with individual, undocumented students who are making their way in the U.S. despite the less-than-welcoming environment.

We are all immigrants. Those of us whose ancestors did the immigrating for us are just lucky. It’s a big country. We need lots of smart, hard-working immigrants to continue to improve the U.S.

Do you have a favorite memory about your involvement with our organization?

Jen worked with Geidy Baldeon (from Peru) a lot when she was in the U.S. Jen was very involved in her discussions about her future and helped her get an internship with a nonprofit while she was in the U.S. Jen kept in touch with her after she moved back to Peru and we hung out with her multiple days when we visited Peru.

Do you have a message for our organization and community?

Not for the the E4FC community. The message is for the rest of the U.S.: We’re a melting pot! Immigrants are some of the most hard-working people. The U.S. needs immigrants! And, if you’re not moved by compassion, be moved by pragmatic economics. Want 3 percent GDP growth again? Take more immigrants!