Honoring the Service of Adam Pederson: A Dedicated Leader and Champion of UDS
As we close another chapter in the story of Uniting Distant Stars, we are honored to recognize someone whose leadership, heart, and steadfast commitment have shaped our organization for nearly a decade: Adam Pederson.
Adam has been an integral part of Uniting Distant Stars’ governance and growth. For eight years, he served as an active member of our Board of Directors, including multiple terms as Board Chair, where he helped guide the organization through milestones, program expansions, and organizational transitions. His long‑standing board service was marked by a clear passion for creating meaningful educational opportunities for Liberian youth and strengthening the systems that support them.
Adam Pederson
A Leader Who Helped Expand Opportunities for Liberian Youth
Adam championed the growth of technology access within the UDS learning environment. He helped secure resources for the UDS Computer Lab, which expanded hands‑on digital learning opportunities for students who would otherwise have limited exposure to computers. In highlighting the program’s impact, Adam shared how young learners were not only gaining confidence with technology but were also engaging in advanced skills like assembling desktop computers for the first time.
In addition to strengthening our computer program, Adam also played a major role in expanding renewable‑energy learning opportunities. In 2018, he organized the Shine a Light on Education Fundraiser in New York City, serving as the lead coordinator. He secured donated African art and modern abstract paintings for the silent auction, supported a raffle, and arranged a $2,500 matching gift to inspire donors. The event exceeded its $5,000 goal by raising $5,292, while also increasing visibility for UDS’s solar power initiative and laying the groundwork for electrician students to assist in installing solar panels.
Adam’s impact extended even further when he secured Uniting Distant Stars’ first major donor, who generously pledged $50,000 in 2021. These anonymous donors believed deeply in UDS’s mission and requested a proposal outlining the organization's most urgent needs. Their extraordinary contribution enabled UDS to purchase one acre of land for $10,000, renew the Center lease for five years at $15,000, and support additional program goals, including completing the cosmetology fundraiser. In the years that followed, remaining funds strengthened core operations and later supported 2023 initiatives, including purchasing a used Toyota Corolla to expand driver’s education offerings and acquiring solar installation equipment and labor, helping UDS reach near full solar energy capacity.
Volunteer Day at Ten Thousand Village in 2016. Right to left: Adam Pederson, Diane Anastos, and Miriam Monono-Isaac.
A Voice for UDS in the Community
Beyond program development, Adam represented Uniting Distant Stars in community and nonprofit forums, including the Minnesota International NGO Network’s annual summit, where he joined UDS Co‑Founder Heather Cannon in sharing UDS’s mission with partners and nonprofit leaders. UDS also participated as a sponsor that year—a milestone moment he helped elevate.
He amplified UDS’s work through outreach, event promotion, and donor engagement, helping strengthen visibility and support for our programs.
Rolling Off the Board—but Not Away from the Mission
In December 2025, Adam officially completed his board service and rolled off the Board of Directors. While his time as a board member has concluded, his commitment to Uniting Distant Stars has not. Adam continues to volunteer with the Fundraising Committee, bringing his insight, creativity, and community‑building spirit into one of the most essential areas of nonprofit sustainability.
His ongoing volunteer work ensures that UDS can continue providing high‑quality vocational training, technology programs, and youth empowerment opportunities in Liberia.
A Legacy of Service—and a Continuing Partnership
Adam’s years of service leave a lasting legacy. His leadership helped guide UDS through critical expansions, strengthened our organizational reach, and amplified the voices of the young people we serve. We are deeply grateful for his dedication and are delighted that he continues to support our mission in a volunteer capacity.
Please join us in thanking Adam Pederson for his extraordinary contributions to Uniting Distant Stars. His impact will be felt for years to come, and we are honored to still call him a partner in our work. Please join us in thanking Adam Pederson for his extraordinary contributions to Uniting Distant Stars. His impact will be felt for years to come, and we are honored to still call him a partner in our work.