--- title: Pam donates to help FIRST build a better future. description: Pam is a FIRST alum who understands the importance in giving back. Learn more about her story, what compels her to donate, and give your gift today. image: https://community.firstinspires.org/hubfs/annual-appeal/2019/pam-alumni-appeal-eoy19.jpg --- Pam is a *FIRST*® alum from *FIRST*®* *Robotics Competition Team 1257 “Parallel Universe” in Scotch Plains, NJ. After high school, she earned a degree in psychology with an education minor and now leads a team of analysts and researchers as Director of Performance Metrics and Research at the NYC Department of Education. Her *FIRST *experience not only inspired her career path in the education sector but also her desire to volunteer and donate to *FIRST *to help the next generation gain access to life-changing inspiration and community. ## *"FIRST* demonstrated to me how life-changing educational access and experiential learning can be to a student’s trajectory and how it can set the next generation up for success,” Pam said. “Initially I started volunteering to stay connected to the *FIRST* community and to pay my own experience as a student forward. The longer that I have volunteered, the more important the mission of *FIRST*, and therefore supporting it financially, has become to me. I’ve come to understand the variety of ways that *FIRST* is having an impact on students’ trajectories and how important it is to give back." Read more about [Pam's story](https://www.firstinspires.org/stories/i-donate-help-first-build-better-future), and join her in making your [tax-deductible end of year gift](https://give.firstinspires.org/give/260986/#!/donation/checkout?c_src=firstinspires&c_src2=alumni1219) >> ** [Alumni](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/alumni) #### Share it: [** ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://community.firstinspires.org/pam-donates-to-help-first-build-a-better-future) [** ](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://community.firstinspires.org/pam-donates-to-help-first-build-a-better-future) [** ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://community.firstinspires.org/pam-donates-to-help-first-build-a-better-future) ![Default Author Image](https://community.firstinspires.org/hubfs/Community%20Blog%20v2/images/FIRST-author-icon.svg) Author [FIRST Staff](https://community.firstinspires.org/author/first) These blog posts have been contributed by members of *FIRST* staff. *FIRST* is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Manchester, N.H. ### Related Posts Giving to FIRST: Meet Mike! October 24, 2023 Giving to FIRST: Meet Kate and Sravan! October 24, 2023 ** [STEM for Everyone](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/stem-for-everyone), [Inspired Youth, Inspire You](https://community.firstinspires.org/topic/inspired-youth-inspire-you) Inspired Youth, Inspire You: How FIRST Robotics Competition Team 2080 is helping a 5-year old with spinal muscular atrophy gain greater independence December 15, 2023 ![](https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1200203950045814&ev=PageView&noscript=1) ![](https://ct.pinterest.com/v3/?tid=2615041699514&noscript=1) ![](https://ct.pinterest.com/v3/?tid=2615041699514&event=PageVisit&noscript=1)