Groundwork Foundation is honored to have Melissa lend her expertise to grow our shared mission of supporting individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds and marginalized communities to lead fulfilled lives. Since the planning stages of Claire’s Place Foundation, Melissa has spent countless hours working for the cause and, of course, raising her two children, Claire (the foundation’s namesake) and Ellie. With many years of experience in project management and event planning, she has the drive and the experience needed to get the foundation off the ground, as well as the personal history of raising a child with cystic fibrosis. Melissa is also a strong supporter of many charities and fundraising activities in her community. As the Executive Director of Claire’s Place Foundation, Melissa reports to the board of directors and is responsible for the organization’s consistent achievement of its mission and financial objectives. Maintaining official records and documents to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations is also an important job duty. Melissa constantly strives to develop a climate that attracts, keeps, and motivates a diverse group of top-quality board members, volunteers, and supporters. In addition, it is her responsibility to publicize the activities of the organization, its programs, and goals to supporters, community members, and potential corporate partners. Among many other successful events and programs, Melissa oversaw the launch of the Work Proudly Program at Claire’s Place Foundation to help CF caregivers and adult patients obtain job training and meaningful employment.