#Bemorelikeclaire's Mission

Our mission is to carry on Claire's legacy
by cultivating the power of collective generosity
so that all may live a safe and healthy life.

​Guiding Principles: 

• All people should have access to healthy food.
• All people should have access to holistic and comprehensive health care.
• All people should have access to housing that is safe and affordable.
• Positive caring role models and mentors transform lives.
• All relationships should be built on trust and respect, and should be free from cruelty. 
• The earth and its resources should be protected and respected.​

Our Story

Lt. Dr. Claire Elizabeth VanLandingham was a promising young Navy dentist when her life was tragically cut short. On January 3, 2018, she was murdered by an ex-boyfriend. She was a bright light and had big plans to make the world a more fair, compassionate, and loving place for all people. #BeMoreLikeClaire is a way for those of us who loved her - and those who never had the pleasure of meeting her - to pool our efforts to continue in some small way the work that she most certainly would have done.

To know Claire was to know love in action. Her compassion, her ability to see the needs of others, her bravery, her joy, and her goodness were the natural contours of her short but meaningful life.

#BeMoreLikeClaire raises money to support projects that help provide access to food, housing and health care; provide mentors and leadership opportunities, promote healthy relationships, and work to create a healthier environment. Our big fundraiser is the Give Back Bash Click here to check it out and save the date for July 17, 2020. Click here to to see some of the great work our generous donors have supported through #BeMoreLikeClaire Grants.
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​Thank you for joining us in honoring a life well lived.
​Her grandfather adapted the Robert Burns quote when he said, 
"If there is another world, she lives in bliss. If there is none, she made the best of this."

The hashtag story

The hashtag #BeMoreLikeClaire was started by her dental school friends. No one is exactly sure who the first one was to use it, but they all agree that "It doesn't matter. [We’re] just happy people are using it to make the world a better place." As they learned about her death, they commented over and over again about what a bright light she was; they described her as loving, selfless, kind, gentle, joyful, and fun, with a brilliant mind focused on creating good in the world. They were inspired to take up the torch to do the work that she would not be able to do. They started using the hashtag on Facebook in their tributes to her as they were saying goodbye. As soon as a close high school friend learned about the hashtag, he bought the web domain name bemorelikeclaire.org for us to one day create a website to honor her legacy (and we did!).
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Apply for a #BeMoreLikeClaire Grant

Do you have an idea for a grant that might align with our mission? We would love to hear about it! 
Contact us at contact@bemorelikeclaire.org
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Stay Informed

​Sign up for our E-News to receive occasional updates on what's happening at #BeMoreLikeClaire. Rest assured we will not share your information with any third parties. All contact info will be used for #BeMoreLikeClaire communications only.