Our Volunteers | Esperanza Fund

Without our volunteers, Esperanza cannot make the impact we have on so many deserving students. Our network of 150 volunteers read applications, run our social media, host fundraising events, interview scholars, mentor scholars and much more. These accomplished professionals hold elite jobs at top organizations by day, and take time to give back to the next generation of leaders in their respective fields by night.

Our volunteer leaders include a scientist at NASA; physicians at the University of Maryland, the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, and NIH; a development engineer at US AID, and an assistant professor of information technology at John Tyler Community College, among others. We’d love you to be one of them!

Meet some of our extraordinary volunteers!

Alice Wang: Co-Founder

Alice Wang, Co-Founder, served as Chair of the Board of Directors from 2009 to 2015. Her work on Esperanza...

Alvaro Bedoya: Co-Founder

Alvaro Bedoya, Co-Founder, started Esperanza in 2009 alongside Andy Felton and Alice Wang, who he met through the Paul &...

Amilcar Guzman: Mentor & Volunteer

Amilcar Guzman, Mentor & Volunteer, is a member of the Development and the Scholarship Committees. His involvement with Esperanza started...

Birdie Rovner Pieczenik: Mentor

Birdie Rovner Pieczenik, Mentor, chanced to meet an Esperanza mentor at an MIT dinner/lecture who sounded truly inspired by the volunteer...

Brian Greene: Volunteer

Brian Greene, Volunteer, became involved in Esperanza in 2009 after meeting with Alvaro Bedoya and Alex Lin, who had responded...

Claire Alexander: Volunteer

Claire Alexander, Volunteer, was introduced to Esperanza in 2010, and helped the founding leadership team codify Esperanza’s core beliefs, prepare for...

Dave Molk: Volunteer

Dave Molk, Volunteer, recently moved to DC and began searching for ways to help support the immigrant community. He joined Esperanza...

Delna Dastur: Volunteer

Delna Dastur, Volunteer, is a professional working artist. She teaches at the Smithsonian Institution and at the Art League...

Gillie Campbell: Mentor

Gillie Campbell, Mentor, joined Esperanza after attending the annual benefit concert and began by reading and evaluating hundreds of...

Gisela Ariza, Mentor

Gisela Ariza, Mentor, joined Esperanza in 2017 as a result of her passion for counseling and mentoring young people....

Israel Nery: Volunteer

Israel Nery, Treasurer and Volunteer, is a member of the Development Committee. He became involved with Esperanza in 2017. As...

Jessica Torres: Mentor

Jessica was born and raised in Carson, CA by her two parents who migrated to the U.S. from Nicaragua...

Jonathan Diaz: Volunteer

Jonathan Diaz, Volunteer, worked closely with immigrant communities in Boston, MA and in Rochester, NY. Looking to remain involved...

Jose Nazario: Mentor

Jose was born and raised in Puerto Rico, attended University of Puerto Rico and attained an electrical engineering bachelor...

Julia Fuma: Co-Chair, Scholarship

Julia Fuma, Co-Chair of Scholarship Committee, joined Esperanza in 2010 as a scholarship application reader. She initially committed to reading...

Kate Jackson: Volunteer

Kate Jackson, Volunteer, moved to DC 4 years ago for a fellowship as Chief of Staff for the McKinsey Center...

Kersy Dastur: Volunteer

Kersy Dastur, Volunteer, is a member of the Development, Mentorship, and Scholarship Committees. His involvement with Esperanza started several...

Maria Beltrán: Mentor

A Los Angeles native, Maria is a first-generation college graduate that holds a B.A. in global and international studies...

Michelle Schwartz: Mentor

Michelle D. Schwartz, Board of Directors, is an attorney and public policy professional with experience in all three branches...

Patricia Silva-Santisteban: Mentor

Patricia Silva-Santisteban, Mentor, teaches Information Technology at John Tyler Community College in Virginia. Patricia witnessed the creation of Esperanza...

Stephanie Martinez: Alum and Alumni Committee Chair

Stephanie Martinez, Alumni Committee Chair, started her journey with Esperanza as a scholar in 2011. Born in the U.S....

I began mentoring Esperanza scholars as soon as the mentorship program was founded. Since then, I have supported – witnessed, really – the progress to success of three wonderful young students.

Patricia Silva-Santisteban, Mentor
The Esperanza Education Fund truly stands for “Esperanza”….HOPE.

Stephanie Martinez, 2011 Esperanza Scholar and Chair of the Alumni Committee
I think that every child, regardless of where they’re from or what their papers say, has the right to a good education.

Alvaro Bedoya, Co-Founder and Member of the Board of Directors
My affiliation with Esperanza gives me an enormous sense of pride. It is a community of remarkable volunteers dedicated to ensuring as many outstanding students as possible have the opportunity to receive an education. These students will go on to do truly great things for their communities and our country, and I’m privileged to play a small part in helping them succeed

Jason Steinhauer, Board of Directors
Being a part of Esperanza reminds me that a group of dedicated people really can make a difference. I’m consistently humbled by the hard work and generosity of our scholars, volunteers, and board members, and am so excited to see the impact this community will make in years to come.

Natalie Gould, Mentorship Committee Co-Chair
I have so much respect and admiration for each Esperanza scholar – they overcome so much to achieve success.

Sima Zadeh, Communications Chair
I was originally drawn to Esperanza by its lively, smart, idealistic founders, then became more committed as I got to know the scholars themselves, whose resourcefulness, hard work and optimism inspire me every day. I want to help Esperanza fully support our scholars, and I want our country to fully support them as well.

Gillie Campbell, Mentor
I am a firm believer in education as the path toward life’s achievements as well as contributing to the welfare of our fellow human beings. So many of the young people today have to overcome several hurdles to gain an education, the most formidable of which are faced by immigrant children. As an immigrant myself, I am proud to be part of Esperanza and help make the journey somewhat less insurmountable for our outstanding and well deserving scholars.

Kersy Dastur, Volunteer
When I read our applications, I am inspired not just by our scholars, but the dedication of mentors—teachers, counselors, community members—who play important roles in encouraging and supporting students who may have fewer resources throughout high school. I am pleased to be part of an organization that provides that same mentorship and support for students in their college years.

Julia Fuma, Scholarship Committee Co-Chair
Part of what I love about Esperanza is how we manage to serve two communities at once – our primary focus is supporting our scholars’ success in college and afterward, but we also care deeply about leadership and cultivating a certain entrpreneurial spirit with our volunteers, too.

Alex Lin, Secretary, Esperanza Board of Directors

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