Moving Forward: The Fountain Fund Oct 8, 2025 After regaining his freedom, Stephen received crucial help from The Fountain Fund, including a low-interest loan, financial coaching, and community support. Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Email After spending nearly three decades wrongfully imprisoned, Stephen Pina was released in 2022 and fully exonerated in 2024. Since then, he has dedicated himself to reentry advocacy. “Since I’ve been home, I advocate heavy. I take any opportunity I can to help someone get out of a wrongful conviction. I believe it’s a hidden epidemic that needs to be recognized in the same way as the opioid crisis. I also show up in spaces to talk about post-incarceration trauma, post-incarceration syndrome and the mental health issues that result from time behind bars.” When his car, a meaningful gift from a friend, began failing, The Fountain Fund provided a $5,900 loan for repairs. Restoring his transportation enabled Stephen to keep supporting others, while monthly payments are helping him rebuild credit and stability.
