March 18, 2020

To Whom It May Concern,

This letter of reference is written on behalf of Clare Foertsh whom I have known since 2012.
Clare became involved with Youth Ministry as a retreat leader, competitor on our sports teams,
and advocate for others through service. After receiving her bachelor's degree at the University
of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Clare became a young adult leader working with teens directly to
oversee their development into a team. Through this year-long process Clare dedicated her time
to weekly meetings, she facilitated discussion among the teens, and led team building activities.
She did this for the last three years while in grad school and balancing her job. In the last three
years, I have seen Clare’s hard work first hand, her enthusiasm for learning from others in the
field, and a genuine concern for the young people she encounters. Clare is able to connect with
teens. She listens to their input, asks meaningful questions, and makes herself fully present.
Clare does this while remaining professional. She is able to share knowledge and the
experience she has acquired without talking down at anyone. She has a passion for young
people in keeping them safe, helping them articulate their thoughts and feelings, and journeying
with them as they work to develop the tools and skills to deal with the various situations in a
healthy way. Clare takes her responsibilities seriously; she is reliable and collaborates well with
others. As a leader, she has creative ideas, speaks her mind, and asks challenging questions
ensuring all perspectives are taken into account. Clare is driven by her compassion for others
and willingness to be a voice for those without one. She is an emphatic individual and an asset
to our ministry. Clare Foertsch is qualified for this position and will prove it by taking the initiative
to show it. If you have any other questions please contact me at the information below.

Sincerely,

Tina O’Shea
Coordinator of Faith Formation

Q​UEEN​ ​OF​ M​ARTYRS​ R​ECTORY​ - 10233 S. C​ENTRAL​ P​ARK​ - E​VERGREEN​ P​ARK​, IL - 60805 -
QM​ARTYRS​YM@​GMAIL​.C​ OM