Hidden Heroes Fund Announces 2017 Grants 

Washington, D.C.  – The Elizabeth Dole Foundation today announced the Military Family Research Institute (MFRI) at Purdue University as a recipient of a 2017 grant from the Foundation’s Hidden Heroes Fund. The Fund is dedicated to supporting innovative programs making a direct impact in the lives of America’s military and veteran caregivers. 

More than half a million dollars will be distributed to fourteen nonprofit organizations to create new initiatives or expand existing programs. The 2017 grant recipients were competitively selected from among nearly 150 applications from organizations nationally. 

“When the Foundation launched Hidden Heroes in September, we renewed our commitment to do all we can to improve the lives of military caregivers, those spouses, mothers, dads, children, siblings, and friends who are caring for America’s wounded warriors,” said Senator Elizabeth Dole. “As part of this multifaceted initiative, we established the Hidden Heroes Fund to award grants to nonprofit organizations that are making a real difference in the lives of America’s military and veteran caregivers.” 

The Military Family Research Institute (MFRI) conducts research on issues that affect military and veteran families and works to shape policies, programs and practices that improve their well-being. Measuring Communities, the landmark MFRI program created in partnership with the Purdue Center for Regional Development, will use the grant to combine the information captured on HiddenHeroes.org and through the Hidden Heroes Cities program with data provided by other organizations to create a fuller picture of the strengths and gaps in military family support in communities nationwide. 

“MFRI is pleased to be awarded this grant by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to expand work on the Measuring Communities online portal,” said Kathy Broniarczyk, Director of Family Support at MFRI. “The military caregiver population and their needs are not always well understood by the communities in which they live. Using the data collected on military caregivers by the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, MFRI, through the Measuring Communities online portal, can work to help communities understand and address the needs of this population. We are excited about the collaboration and the potential for this work to make a positive impact on these hidden heroes.” 

Selection criteria for the grants include: the organization’s effectiveness in addressing military caregivers’ unique needs as determined by the Foundation-commissioned RAND study which established baseline research on the status of military caregivers; alignment with the Foundation’s eight critical impact areas: community support at home, education and training, employment, faith and spirituality, financial and legal support, mental and physical health, military family support and respite care; use of evidence-based resources to inform the creation of effective programming for caregivers; and the replicability of the program. 

2017 Hidden Heroes Fund grant recipients are as follows:

• American Red Cross
• Blue Star Families
• Centerstone Military Services
• Code of Support
• Home Base
• The Military Family Research Institute (MFRI)
• Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)
• Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)
• Project Sanctuary
• Public Counsel
• Southern Caregiver Resource Center
• Tidewater Arts Outreach
• Vail Veterans Program
• Yellow Ribbon Fund

For interviews with Elizabeth Dole Foundation Executive Director Steve Schwab and grant recipients, please contact Austin Courtney at ACourtney@susandavis.com or 202-414-0791. 

About The Elizabeth Dole Foundation

The mission of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation is to strengthen and empower America’s military caregivers and their families by raising public awareness, driving research, championing policy, and leading collaborations that make a significant impact on their lives. Learn more about the Hidden Heroes campaign at www.HiddenHeroes.org. 

About Hidden Heroes

Hidden Heroes, an initiative of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, brings vital attention to the untold stories of military caregivers and seeks solutions for the tremendous challenges and long-term needs they face. Hidden Heroes’ goals are to raise awareness of the issues military caregivers confront every day, inspire individuals, businesses, communities, and civic, faith and government leaders to take action in supporting military caregivers in their communities, and establish a national registry, encouraging military caregivers to register at HiddenHeroes.org to better connect them to helpful resources and support.

About the Military Family Research Institute (MFRI)

The Military Family Research Institute (MFRI) conducts research on issues that affect military and veteran families and works to shape policies, programs and practices that improve their well-being. Founded in 2000, MFRI envisions a diverse support community that understands the most pressing needs of military and veteran families and collaborates to create meaningful solutions for them. This nationally-recognized organization is located within Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies.

Contact: Austin Courtney
acourtney@susandavis.com
202-414-0791 (office)