Ask Claire how she ended up as the CEO of SHARE, an independent nonprofit that provides programs and support to the tri-cities, and she’ll tell you her path was a bit unconventional as a former speech pathologist. But also that it was what she was destined to do. Growing up, altruism was a constant in her household. “My mom always volunteered. There was just an expectation that you did your best and you helped people that maybe weren’t as fortunate,” she remembers fondly. For her mom and now Claire, giving back is what fuels them—it’s their form of self-care.

Originally working with children, Claire found speech pathology immensely rewarding and equally frustrating. While helping others was exactly what she wanted, seeing the long list of people who sought her services was defeating. She remembers realizing that instead of helping a hundred kids each year, she could help thousands with a career pivot. That’s when she stepped into policy-making and eventually found herself at SHARE—a move that has made it possible for Claire to problem-solve from a new perspective. “I love being able to look at the system,” she says. “It’s about the sustainability of what I can change that will have a legacy in this community to make people’s lives better for years to come.”

It’s something Claire and her staff put into practice when dealing with their clients. And part of looking at the bigger picture means listening to the people who come looking for help and taking the time to understand the root of their issues. Like the man who came to SHARE needing help with legal paperwork, only for Claire’s staff to realize the real issue was that he was illiterate. Or the new immigrant mother who originally came to the food bank for help but revealed she had a struggling autistic son at home. Claire’s staff were there to listen, find the cause of the issue, and implement solutions—like a teacher to help the illiterate man bravely learn to read and write. And setting the mom up with a youth worker to help her son be more independent, in turn helping regain her independence. They’re just two examples of Claire’s belief that “If you want it and have the right support in place—there’s no limit to what you can do.”

Like her mother, helping is Claire’s form of self-care while her empathy for her clients is what propels her forward. “When you are scared and struggling and have someone look you in the eyes and tell you it’s going to be ok. I know how that feels,” she says. “I think it’s important to realize that all of us are going to have struggles. That’s why services and programs like this need to exist.” And why Claire will continue to do what she does best—help.