WASHINGTON—The Elizabeth Dole Foundation announced 20 military and veteran caregivers from across the country will make up its 2025 Class of Dole Caregiver Fellows.
The fellowship is a selective program that empowers those caring for a service member or veteran to serve as leaders in their local communities while also representing their peers in national advocacy initiatives. The new fellows are the first to be selected since the Foundation’s 2024 study that found the estimated number of military and veteran caregivers in America had nearly tripled past estimates, reaching 14.3 million caregivers.
“This year’s Dole Caregiver Fellows will play an integral role as the Elizabeth Dole Foundation confronts the growing magnitude of the caregiver crisis in America,” said Steve Schwab, CEO, Elizabeth Dole Foundation. “Our fellows are our first line of support and connection to the millions of loved ones caring for someone who served, and their insights, perspectives and experiences enrich the programs and services we provide to caregivers, veterans and their families.”
The fellows will begin their two-year term this month by traveling to Washington, D.C. to participate in the foundation’s National Convening on Military Caregiving on Tuesday, May 20, featuring remarks by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins. Fellows will also receive training from the foundation to serve as community builders in their home states and share their experiences with elected officials, including those in their local areas and national leaders in the White House, Congress, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other government agencies.
The 2025 Class represents 16 states and includes two caregivers assisting friends, a young mom caring for a husband with early onset Alzheimer’s disease, a spouse caring for both her veteran husband and severely disabled daughter, family members caring for loved ones suffering from toxic exposure, a brother caring for his brother with PTSD and a grown daughter who has helped care for her dad since she was in elementary school.
The 2025 Dole Caregiver Fellows are:
- Debra Anzalone – Lighthouse Point, Florida
- Maame Bassaw – Dupont, Washington
- Kylie Briest – Yankton, South Dakota
- Katherine Chih – Oceanside, California
- Patricia Cullum – Amherst, New Hampshire
- Gabriela Headen – Brownsville, Texas
- Joseph Kavanagh – Tahlequah, Oklahoma
- Michael Korman – Glenview, Illinois
- Jacqueline Larsen – West End, North Carolina
- Oddise Lundy – Rosenberg, Texas
- David Meyer – Denver, Colorado
- Heidi Munro – Boise, Idaho
- Lisa Musselman – Daphne, Alabama
- Kasandra Padilla – Magnolia, Texas
- Dara Parker - Ronan, Montana
- Liana Redshaw – Algonquin, Illinois
- Mozella Richardson-Kamara – Dover, Delaware
- Anna Smith – Chesterton, Indiana
- Liz Wright – Cheshire, Connecticut
- G.R. Zuniga – Temecula, California