By Theresa Coomer, 2019 Dole Caregiver Fellow, Illinois
When my husband was injured in 2004, I became a caregiver much younger than I ever expected. I didn’t know anyone who was going through what I was; I was overwhelmed and felt very alone.
I found the Elizabeth Dole Foundation seven years into my caregiving journey. I was relieved to know there were others like me, and I wanted to get involved and help other caregivers.
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation does so much for caregivers—from phenomenal support resources for families, to critical financial assistance, and much-needed connection to other caregivers. Finding the Foundation and their resources has been life changing for me and my family. In 2019, I became a Dole Caregiver Fellow and have worked to make a difference in the lives of caregivers and their veterans ever since.
As caregivers, we often don’t put ourselves first, but when it comes to planning for our future, it is imperative that we have things in place for when the inevitable happens. We all hear stories of caregivers who didn’t have wills in place for themselves and their veterans, and that it is very difficult to navigate without one.
In 2023, through the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s partnership with FreeWill, I was able to create my will and include the Foundation in my estate planning. It gave me such peace of mind to know that it was taken care of, and to be able to give back to an organization that has meant so much to me.
Creating a will was so much easier than I anticipated.
- Create your will: Follow the easy, step-by-step instructions to fill out the necessary information online.
- Print out documents: The information you provide is turned into precise legal language and provided back to you as a printable document.
- Sign and keep safe: Follow instructions to sign and make your document official. Keep it somewhere safe but accessible.
Supporting caregivers is essential to taking care of our veterans. I hope you’ll join me in creating your will for free today and consider leaving a bequest to the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to support caregivers for years to come.
If you have any questions about FreeWill or Planned Giving through the Foundation, please contact Michaela at michaela@elizabethdolefoundation.org or 202-918-9029.
