Elizabeth Dole Foundation Taps Two Ambassadors From Dumfries

WASHINGTON — Two Dumfries women have been selected as among 31 military and veteran caregivers as 2017 Fellows for the Elizabeth Dole Foundation.

Betsy Eves and Jacqueline Goodrich will represent Virginia through 2019 and "share their personal stories to bring vital attention to the tremendous challenges caregivers face and advocate for America’s military and veteran caregivers through the Foundation’s newly launched Hidden Heroes initiative."

Here's more from the Dole Foundation:

About Betsy Eves

Betsy Eves’ husband David is a retired US Army infantryman who deployed three times to Iraq and Afghanistan. Despite his efforts to prepare himself for each deployment, Betsy knew the impact on his mental health was far worse than David admitted. In 2014, she found David attempting to take his own life and he was subsequently diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress (PTS), a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and chronic depression, due to combat-related experiences. Even after supporting her husband through multiple deployments and being a mother to their two young children, Betsy’s new role as David’s caregiver is by far the biggest challenge she has faced.

Betsy is also a recent graduate of the summer 2016 class of Dog Tag, Inc. Fellowship Program where she earned a Certificate of Business Administration from the Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies. She is also an entrepreneur and founded her own media and online marketing company, Be Creative Consulting, LLC, in addition to managing a baking and lifestyle website called The JavaCupcake Blog.
As a Dole Caregiver Fellow, Betsy plans to provide support for other caregivers, like the support she has received, and further strengthen caregiver communities across the United States.

About Jacqueline Goodrich

When Jacqueline Goodrich’s husband Michael was wounded by a rocket explosion in Eastern Afghanistan, on his 26th birthday, their lives were changed forever. Shrapnel from the rocket blew through Michael’s face and entire right side of his body. Now, Jacqueline is Michael’s full-time caregiver, serving as his brain when his Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) prohibits him from remembering things, his legs when his body locks up and he is unable to move, and his stress relief when his Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) triggers anxiety and panic attacks. In addition to caring for Michael, Jacqueline is also a mother to their two children and runs a nonprofit she founded to provide support to the children of wounded warriors.

Jacqueline believes, “If you’re going to complain about something, bring a solution.” In her new role as a Dole Caregiver Fellow, she will remain proactive in her community, creating solutions to improve conditions for wounded warriors and their families. Already, Jacqueline has written a 12 point policy brief reform proposal which was presented at the Pentagon and resulted in improved care for her family and others. Policy and advocacy work are her passion and she looks forward to living out a legacy of service alongside her husband.

Images via Elizabeth Dole Foundation