About Us

Our Mission

What We Believe

Every individual should have the opportunity to rise to their potential, regardless of financial barriers to immigration legal services.

What We Do

By providing free, expert legal support and strong professional management, RISE helps immigrants with valid legal claims build a better future for themselves, their families, and their communities.

We close the gap between legal eligibility and legal access – a gap that too often determines whether a life is built or broken.

Founded in 2022, RISE is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting the immigrant community with free legal immigration services. We focus our resources on low-income clients and humanitarian causes. Whether it’s asylum, humanitarian parole, family reunification, or helping victims of crime or trafficking, RISE provides pro bono legal immigration services to assist our communities most in need.

Legal Expertise. With seasoned leadership and a top national immigration law firm partner, RISE delivers the high‑quality legal support vulnerable individuals often lack.

Administrative Efficiency. Back‑office support from a leading immigration solutions provider ensures every donation funds legal services.

Business Savvy. Led by the former CEO of Apartments.com and Envoy Global, and a Board of business and philanthropic leaders, management expertise ensures efficient execution.

Our Team

Dick Burke

Richard Burke, JD

Chairman of the Board
Former CEO, Envoy Global
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Nancy Sandifer Barillaro

Nancy Barillaro, JD

Board Member
Executive Director, RISE
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Addie Hogan

Addie Hogan, JD

Board Member
Managing Partner, Corporate Immigration Partners PC
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John Feeley

Board Member
Executive Director, Center for Media Integrity of the Americas
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Mark Shriver

Mark Shriver

Board Member
President, Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School
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Kimberly Simonton

Board Member & Treasurer
Chief Financial Officer, Envoy Global
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Marc Sondheimer

Marc Sondheimer

Board Member & Secretary Film Producer
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Anne Walsh

Anne Walsh, JD

Board Member, Emeritus Partner, Corporate Immigration Partners PC
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Marian Pierce

Marian Pierce

Program Manager
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Dick Burke

Richard Burke

Chairman of the Board
Former CEO, Envoy Global

Richard believes that immigration affords individuals and businesses the opportunity to maximize their potential while strengthening society. After earning his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center, Richard started his career at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom before leading HomeGain.com and Apartments.com through its sale in 2014. Thereafter, Burke was president and chief executive officer of Envoy Global, an immigration services provider from 2015 until 2025. Under Burke’s leadership, Envoy’s topline grew from even figures to nine, expanded internationally and grew into one of the U.S.’ largest immigration providers. Burke was a national finalist for EY’s 2022 Entrepreneur of the Year award.

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Nancy Sandifer Barillaro

Nancy Barillaro

Board Member
Executive Director, RISE

Nancy began her career as an immigration paralegal then earned her law degree at Santa Clara University School of Law. She has served as an immigration Attorney for the non-profit, International Institute of the East Bay, and has provided counsel to the business community on complex immigration issues including drafting legal briefs, researching case law, and gathering evidence. Now as Executive Director of The Rise Foundation by Envoy, Inc., Nancy is fulfilling her passion of serving low-income individuals and families as they navigate the U.S. immigration system.

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Addie Hogan

Addie Hogan

Board Member
Managing Partner, Corporate Immigration Partners PC

For nearly two decades, Addie has been dedicated to advising clients on all aspects of US-based business immigration law and moving foreign talent worldwide. As a Founding Partner of the San Francisco-based firm, Corporate Immigration Partners, Addie manages teams of attorneys and paralegals providing services to clients in a wide range of industries. She holds the designation of Global Mobility Specialist (GMS®) and has been recognized by Super Lawyers for pro bono service. Addie received her law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law.

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John Feeley

Board Member
Executive Director, Center for Media Integrity of the Americas

John Feeley is a former career U.S. ambassador who served for 28 years in the U.S. State Department, including as Ambassador to Panama, Deputy Chief of Mission in Mexico City, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs. A skilled negotiator and cross-cultural leader, his work has consistently operated at the intersection of government, media, and international affairs.

John currently serves as Executive Director of the Center for Media Integrity of the Americas, a nonprofit foundation promoting high-quality journalism and freedom of expression throughout the Western Hemisphere. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Envoy Global and is a frequent commentator in English- and Spanish-language media. John brings a deep commitment to democratic institutions, public trust, and global cooperation to his service on the Rise board.

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Mark Shriver

Mark Shriver

Board Member
President, Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School

Mark Shriver is a longtime advocate for children and families whose career spans public service, nonprofit leadership, and education. He helped establish the National Commission on Children and Disasters and later founded Save the Children Action Network to advance bipartisan policy solutions on behalf of children nationwide.

Mark is a former member of the Maryland House of Delegates and a bestselling author. He currently serves as President of Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School and its Corporate Work Study Program, a college-preparatory high school serving students across the Washington, D.C. region. In addition, he is a Senior Advisor at Save the Children, where he has led and expanded domestic education and emergency-response programs in underserved communities. Mark brings a lifelong commitment to opportunity, dignity, and service to his role on the Rise board.

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Kimberly Simonton

Board Member & Treasurer
Chief Financial Officer, Envoy Global

Kimberly Simonton serves as a Board Member and Treasurer for Rise. She is Chief Financial Officer of Envoy Global, where she oversees Finance, Legal, and Human Resources. She brings more than 30 years of global finance and operations experience across healthcare manufacturing, distribution, and technology businesses within both private equity–backed and publicly held organizations.

Prior to joining Envoy Global, Kim served as Chief Financial Officer of Intelligent Medical Objects, where she led finance, accounting, legal, IT, and security functions and helped guide the company through a successful sale in 2022. Earlier in her career, she held CFO roles at Avalign Technologies and Surgical Solutions and spent nearly two decades with publicly held healthcare companies including Hospira, CareFusion, and Cardinal Health.

Kim also served for more than a decade on the Board of Directors of The Cradle, a 100+ year old adoption agency based in Evanston, Illinois, reflecting her long-standing commitment to supporting children and families. She brings deep financial expertise and a steady, mission-centered approach to her role on the Rise board.

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Marc Sondheimer

Marc Sondheimer

Board Member & Secretary Film Producer

Marc Sondheimer is an Academy Award-winning producer and senior executive with more than two decades of leadership experience at Pixar Animation Studios, where he oversaw award-winning productions, managed multi-million-dollar budgets, and led complex creative collaborations. His career has blended creative leadership with strategic and financial oversight in highly complex environments.

A second-generation American whose father immigrated to the United States, Marc brings a personal understanding of the immigrant experience and the pursuit of opportunity. His global perspective and values-driven approach inform his leadership and service. Marc contributes creative insight, strategic thinking, and deep empathy to his role on the Rise board.

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Anne Walsh

Anne Walsh

Board Member, Emeritus Partner, Corporate Immigration Partners PC

Practicing exclusively in immigration law, Anne is a Partner at Global Immigration Associates in Chicago where she counsels clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 corporations and their foreign national employees. In addition to her employment-based practice, Anne represents individuals pursuing immigration benefits through family relationships. Anne earned her law degree from Marquette University Law School with distinction for pro bono service.

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Marian Pierce

Marian Pierce

Program Manager

Marian brings more than 35 years of experience in the immigration field to her position as Program Manager at Rise Foundation. She has held diverse leadership and client-facing roles spanning client service, in-house program management, technology, marketing, advocacy, and business development. Her career includes work with law firms, a Big Four accounting firm, a Washington, DC–based immigration trade association, and an international relocation management company. Beyond her professional work, Marian has hosted international students and mentored fellow host families. She is also an accomplished classical singer and oil painter.

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Who we are