Claire was a perfect fit for The Task Force for Global Health. Many of you probably don’t know much about the Task Force. The Task Force is a special organization, doing very special work that is made possible by very special people. Claire was one of our special people.

Claire’s values aligned perfectly with our organizational values. The Task Force stresses collaborative approaches to solving big problems. Claire was innately a collaborative person. The Task Force strives for social justices by addressing health problems that afflict the most marginalized. Claire’s life was devoted to social justice. The Task Force builds its work on consequential compassion, which means that caring is not enough. No, we insist that we make a difference. In every fiber of her being, Claire was a compassionate woman devoted to seeing her work make a real difference in the health of many.

Claire was a quiet and serious woman who was always helpful and kind. She was a serious colleague devoted to solving technical problems that would unleash the power of information to improve health. When working with Claire, I felt I needed to bring my A game. She expected a lot of herself and that inspired me to expect a lot from myself.

And, of course, Claire shared her values visibly through her car. Everyone knew Claire’s car and, through it, they knew Claire. The Task Force was a perfect place for her car. It spoke to our values also.

In closing, I must say that I am happy that Claire lived to receive her Hilton Humanitarian Award medal. That award speaks to the values and meaning of Claire’s life. It is the most significant humanitarian award given in the world and it is a fitting way to honor my friend, our friend, your sister and your daughter.

Her light will forever live in our hearts. Every day, I walk into our lobby and I see the award. It reminds me of the goodness, kindness and compassion that is Claire’s lasting light.