Ryan grew up in Shelby, Ohio, a small town where being a “good kid” mattered—and where Ryan genuinely wanted to be one. He paid his own way through Case Western Reserve University, studying history, political science, and photography.
After graduating in 2007, Ryan landed his dream job as a Boy Scouts High Ropes Director. When that role ended, he accepted a customer service position at Highmark, bringing him to Pittsburgh and changing the course of his life. Not long after, he met a woman working in his building, an encounter that led to dating, and eventually, an unexpected pregnancy.
At the same time, Ryan was offered a dream job with the Boy Scouts. He asked for the weekend to think it over. That Sunday, he learned he was going to be a dad. On Monday, he turned the job down, choosing stability so he could stay in Pittsburgh and be present for his child.
Ryan was 24 when his daughter, Madison*, was born via emergency C-section after a long, frightening labor. Holding her for the first time, he knew everything had changed.
“I wouldn’t change that feeling for the world,” he says.
Soon after, Ryan found himself a single parent with no family nearby, working full-time but barely scraping by. There were days when he couldn’t afford food after buying diapers and formula. At one point, he had just 26 cents to his name.
Out of options, Ryan reached out to his pastor, who referred him to SHIM. In 2009, Ryan came for a box of food. Staff asked about allergies and made sure there was no seafood—an act of care he still remembers.
“It was the first time I had actual food in the house,” Ryan says.
Neighbors stepped up in big ways. One friend who worked for Heinz helped Ryan get pallets of baby food at a low cost. Another friend who owned Salon Vivace traded odd jobs for cash.
“I found my village when Madison was tiny,” Ryan says. “I love those people dearly.”
With determination and help from his community, Ryan kept moving forward. He picked up side work, became a published editor for a medical journal, and slowly built a career that led him from Magee to Hillman, UPMC, and Children’s Hospital. There, he helped develop a system that automatically calculates medication doses for children.
“I helped doctors save kids’ lives,” he says. “That’s a cool legacy.”
After setbacks and job changes, Ryan found stability at American Eagle Outfitters, where he now works full-time and is encouraged to give back through paid volunteer time.
Ryan is eager to give that time back. He’s deeply involved in Girl Scouts, first with Madison, and now with his younger daughter. When his troop wanted to do a service project, Ryan immediately thought of SHIM. Trying to explain food insecurity to young kids isn’t easy, but Ryan knows it firsthand. He helped the girls understand by raising money, buying food, and packing bags.
When asked what he wishes people knew about SHIM, Ryan is clear:
“There’s no judgment. Absolutely none. They just want to help. Before that stomach pain hits again, whether from hunger or stress, take a deep breath and reach out. Tomorrow will be a better day.”
*Name changed to protect anonymity
