For many people in Bellevue, Claire Sumadiwirya is a familiar face: a community leader, a Bellevue City Council member, and the heart behind the local business Bellden Café. She is known for bringing people together, creating spaces of belonging, and showing up for her community in meaningful ways.

Through her work and championing of local nonprofits like Bellevue LifeSpring, Claire has long been committed to supporting and advocating for families and children across the Bellevue community.

Born in Shanghai, China, Claire relocated to the Bellevue community more than 30 years ago. “My dad was doing a work project in Seattle, and I came to visit him for summer school from Shanghai. We came to Bellevue so I could attend summer school in the Lake Hills area, and I fell in love with the community. I begged my dad to relocate us here,” Claire shares.

But arriving in a new place came with challenges. “My family’s world was really affected. We didn’t know anyone in the community, and being from a different country, it was hard to connect with others,” shares Claire. “My mom had been a doctor in Shanghai. She was a very successful woman and a leader in her field. When we moved here, she didn’t speak English very well, so overnight, I became the adult and family caregiver in many ways.”

In Claire’s final semester of college, she found herself struggling financially. With tuition due and no money, she entered survival mode. “I took on all kinds of random jobs just to get by,” Claire recalls. At one point, trying to stretch every dollar to make tuition payments, she remembers eating corn for an entire week because it was all she could afford. While short-lived, that experience left its impact on Claire. Her early challenges helped shape a deep sense of resilience and empathy for others navigating unfamiliar systems and circumstances.

Looking at her community here in Bellevue, Claire knows it’s a challenging time for many families. “Many people are living paycheck to paycheck, including members of my own team,” shared Claire. “One small disruption can completely throw a family off balance. Families who are struggling to make ends meet didn’t do anything wrong. They just need extra support, care, and stability; especially children who are especially vulnerable.”

This perspective has fueled Claire’s involvement in local causes. She recently served as co-chair of Bellevue LifeSpring’s 25th Annual Step Up to the Plate Benefit Luncheon. Bellevue LifeSpring’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty for Bellevue children and students and provide them with the resources they need to reach stability. “Although I have supported Bellevue LifeSpring for many years, the Step Up to the Plate Benefit Luncheon last month was the first time I have officially co-chaired something, and I am so excited it was for Bellevue LifeSpring,” said Claire.

For Claire, the organization’s holistic and timely approach to supporting families stands out. She witnessed it firsthand last year when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were paused. She learned that Bellevue LifeSpring responded by quickly expanding its Breaktime-Mealtime program, which provides grocery store food vouchers to replace school meals during school breaks and for emergency nutrition needs throughout the year. “I believe so strongly in Bellevue LifeSpring’s approach to food support,” Claire said. “Providing grocery store gift cards for families during that time provided choice for families and protected their dignity.”

Claire ran a campaign at Bellden Café to support the effort, where every $25 gift card purchased was matched, and the funds were donated to Bellevue LifeSpring. “Even during a difficult economy, people responded and we were able to do our part,” shared Claire. “When a family is in crisis, every hour matters,” shared Bellevue LifeSpring Executive Director Jennifer Fischer. “It's the generosity of community members like Claire that allows us to respond quickly and deliver the prevention support families need before a difficult moment becomes a devastating one. In Bellevue, neighbors help neighbors, and that's not just a saying. It's something I witness every day."

For Claire, these efforts reflect a larger vision for the community she calls home. “To me, a thriving Bellevue is a city made for everyone,” she says. “It’s a place where we bring our expertise, compassion, and honesty together to create systems that work—not just for one group, but for the whole community.”