Immigrants of the Day: Immigrants Honored for Their Selfless Contributions to Society
The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. (ILC) added 11 profiles of immigrants who founded U.S.-based, not-for-profit organizations to a new Social Entrepreneur section of its online Immigrant Entrepreneur Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame was launched in 2012 to honor the entrepreneurial spirit of immigrants in the U.S. and pay tribute to individual immigrants who have made significant contributions to American society. These 11 social entrepreneurs are shining examples of how the drive and spirit of American immigrants can be used to benefit others.
Two of the nation’s most influential environmental organizations were founded by immigrants. John Muir, an immigrant from Scotland, co-founded the Sierra Club, and Dennis Puleston, an immigrant from England, co-founded the Environmental Defense Fund. The efforts of these men led to the passage of significant environmental protection laws and the implementation of the National Park system.
Three U.S. immigrants have impacted many thousands of lives around the world through prestigious international aid organizations. Bernard Amadei, an immigrant from France, founded Engineers Without Borders. Zainab Salbi, an immigrant from Iraq, co-founded Women for Women International, and Elizabeth Silverstein, an immigrant from Austria, co-founded Counterpart International.
The field of medical research has benefited greatly from the efforts of immigrants. In particular, Michael J. Fox, an immigrant from Canada, founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, and Ellen Browning Scripps, an immigrant from England, founded Scripps Research Institute, one of the largest, not-for-profit, independent biomedical research institutions in the world.
Scripps was a generous philanthropist who founded several other institutions such as Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Scripps Health and Scripps College. Perhaps the most generous American philanthropist of all time was Andrew Carnegie, an immigrant from Scotland. There are now 2,510 libraries and 22 charitable organizations around the world that bear his name including Carnegie Mellon University and the Carnegie Foundation.
Immigrants also contribute to local economies by improving the earning power of residents. Rafael Alvarez, an immigrant from Mexico, founded Genysis Works to provide job training to inner city youth. Diane Portnoy, an immigrant from Poland, founded The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. to help immigrants and refugees become successful workers, parents and community members through learning English.
The not-for-profit sector as a whole has benefited greatly from the efforts of one immigrant. Ami Dar, an immigrant from Israel, founded Idealist to connect individuals and organizations with opportunities to make a difference. Dar is consistently recognized as one of the most influential people in the sector.
Social Entrepreneurs in the Immigrant Entrepreneur Hall of Fame
Rafael Alvarez, Genesys Works
Bernard Amadei, Engineers Without Borders
Andrew Carnegie, Carnegie Foundation
Ami Dar, Idealist
Michael J. Fox, Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
John Muir, Sierra Club
Diane Portnoy, The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc.
Dennis Puleston, Environmental Defense Fund
Zainab Salbi, Women for Women International
Ellen Browning Scripps, Scripps Health
Elizabeth Silverstein, Counterpart International
KJ