I was born and raised in Yakima, WA, and in 2007, I relocated to the Wenatchee Valley, where my family and I settled in Entiat. The pandemic brought challenges, particularly in finding the right educational environment for our two teenagers. This led us to discover that Chelan offered the opportunity to enroll our children in their school district. I explored all available educational and social support in the area and spoke with neighbors. The school proved to be the ideal size, offering necessary tools and support, and we found the entire community incredibly welcoming. It was a perfect fit.

I had heard of Thrive before enrolling my children but wasn’t entirely sure how it operated, beyond basic knowledge of a Teen Center after-school program. What truly impressed me was that both of my children discovered opportunities there independently. It provided a supportive, safe, and for the first time in years, social space for them after school, all without a sliding scale fee. Thrive has been a wonderful source of friendship and kindness for my kids, and it’s been a great relief for me knowing they’ve found enjoyment there without my prompting.

My career path has been varied, including roles in customer service, technology, physical therapy, HR, and managing the administrative side of our family business. Throughout these experiences, my passion for helping others remained constant. To further my personal and professional growth, I returned to school and earned a bachelor’s degree in social science. Benefiting from Thrive showed me exactly where I should contribute, and since the fall of 2024, I’ve been volunteering at the Chelan Teen Center and at various Thrive events.

In my free time, I enjoy camping, swimming, reading, writing, puzzling, traveling, visiting with friends and family, cuddling with cats, and I’m currently trying to get comfortable paddle boarding!