Elizabeth Dole Foundation Launches Nationwide Coalition to Support Military Caregivers

April 11, 2014

Today, at the White House, Senator Elizabeth Dole, along with First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, issued a national call to action urging support for military and Veteran caregivers. Senator Dole also announced that the Elizabeth Dole Foundation is launching a national coalition of committed individuals and organizations who will work to raise awareness and provide support to America’s 5.5 million military caregivers.

The Elizabeth Dole Foundation elevated the issue of military and Veteran caregiving to a national level with the April 1 release of a Foundation commissioned study by the RAND Corporation that found military caregivers are struggling to shoulder the enormous responsibility they take on as they care for wounded service members. In response to these findings, the Foundation is launching a powerful coalition to address the gaps in resources identified in the study. Hidden Heroes: The National Coalition for Military Caregivers will draw support from the public, private, non-profit, labor, and faith communities, which were all represented at the White House Joining Forces event.

Taking note of the outpouring of support, Senator Dole said, “I’ve been humbled by the initial responses we’ve been getting from leaders willing to join the coalition. I draw strength every single day from the stories of love and devotion demonstrated by our nation’s military and Veteran caregivers. I hope their commitments to their loved ones and to our nation inspire us to walk with them, and together we can draw the strength and support of Americans in every corner of the country.”

Among organizations stepping up with early major commitments to address gaps in support are: U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Public Counsel, the American Bar Association, Military Officers Association of America, Easter Seals Dixon Center, Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, National Alliance for Caregiving, Family Caregiver Alliance, Caregiver Action Network, Jewish Chaplains Council of the Jewish Community Centers Association, and a large number of organizations banding together as the Military and Veteran Caregiver Peer Support Network. Those organizations, in addition to the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, include Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), American Legion Auxiliary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Caregivers Action Network, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Blue Star Families, Wounded Warrior Project, Military Officers Association of America, Association of the United States Army, National Military Family Association, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, and the National Guard Association of the United States, Atlas Research, and United Service Organizations (USO).

The Dole Foundation, with the support of such generous sponsors as The Starr Foundation, seeks to inspire commitments from organizations throughout the nation, and several notable coalition leaders offered encouragement. Tom Donohue, in offering the Chamber of Commerce’s backing, said “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is proud to support the Elizabeth Dole Foundation's efforts to uplift and support American military caregivers who serve our wounded warriors. As part of Sen. Dole's national coalition, the Chamber will do its part by aggressively expanding our Hiring Our Heroes program which helps secure employment for Veterans and their spouses. By working together, we can help give back to the military heroes, spouses, and caregivers who have sacrificed so much for our great country.”

AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka also offered support, saying, "The AFL-CIO is proud to be an early member of Hidden Heroes: The National Coalition for Military Caregivers.  When Elizabeth Dole and I talked many months ago, I knew she was addressing a critical national need, and I knew the AFL-CIO could play a key role in helping to support military caregivers – in their communities and in their workplaces. My hat’s off to Elizabeth Dole for all her good work and to her Foundation for bringing attention to the challenges faced by these hardworking and loving caregivers.”

Pastor Osteen, joined by his wife Victoria, will host a national service dedicated to military caregivers on Sunday, April 27. Pastor Osteen said, “Victoria and I are privileged to have been asked by Elizabeth Dole to stand with her and other distinguished members of the community to highlight the heroic efforts of those who care for this nation's wounded military service men and women. As local churches are the most common place our caregivers turn for moral and spiritual support, it is my honor to serve with Senator Dole and to be a voice in the faith community to not only thank those who care for our wounded Veterans, but to encourage them, pray for them, and stand by them.”

More than 50 military and Veteran caregivers from across the nation, selected to serve as Elizabeth Dole Fellows, were in attendance at today’s White House event. On Thursday, these caregivers met with more than 100 Members of Congress to provide their perspective and recommendations for addressing our nation’s caregiver crisis. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi were among those who expressed their steadfast commitment to addressing this issue in meetings with Senator Dole and caregivers. Senator Dole also joined Senator Patty Murray, of Washington State, on the Senate floor to introduce major legislation to increase support for military caregivers formulated as a result of the Foundation’s RAND research.

The coalition’s initial commitments were inspired by the findings of the Foundation’s RAND study, which was made possible in part by lead funder and partner, Wounded Warrior Project.

“Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) was proud to take a leading role in helping make possible the largest ever study of military caregivers. Our nation now has the evidential support needed to effectively address both the immediate and long-term needs of our military and Veteran caregivers. WWP has always supported and advocated for the needs of caregivers in recognition of the critical role they play in their Veterans' recovery and we are eager to make an even larger impact in their lives as a part of Senator Elizabeth Dole’s national coalition.”

The Lilly Endowment, Inc. and the Cannon Foundation also provided support for the study. According to the RAND Corporation, 5.5 million Americans serve as military and Veteran caregivers, including more than one million individuals estimated to be providing voluntary care to the wounded Service Members and Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.  These caregivers are desperately struggling to negotiate the labyrinth of family finances and legal matters, all while managing the daily medical and emotional needs of their injured Veterans. Many are also raising children. They are an invisible American workforce with little to no systemic support who are saving the nation hundreds of millions of dollars in health care costs.