The USAA Educational Foundation Partners with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to Launch Caregiver Financial Journey
Washington, DC (October 1, 2024) - The Elizabeth Dole Foundation and The USAA Educational Foundation are proud to announce the launch of the Caregiver Financial Journey, an in-depth resource created in collaboration with military and veteran caregivers, designed to empower them toward financial wellness.
Created in response to the recently published, Elizabeth Dole Foundation-commissioned RAND report, America’s Military and Veteran Caregivers: Hidden Heroes Emerging from the Shadows, this tool gives caregivers the resources to improve their financial health. The RAND report found that, on average, military and veteran caregivers lose an estimated $13,000 a year in out-of-pocket costs and lost income associated with caregiving, and more than one third of military and veteran caregivers are living below 130% of the federal poverty line. These challenges impact not only caregivers’ wallets, but their mental and physical health as well.
“The USAA Educational Foundation is committed to improving the financial wellness of military and veteran caregivers,” said David Evetts, president of The USAA Educational Foundation. “We are honored to partner with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation to create this innovative resource designed by and for caregivers, empowering them with the tools and knowledge they need to achieve financial wellness.”
The Caregiver Financial Journey, available now at usaaef.org/caregiver, is an innovative, user-friendly guide that offers tailored educational content and interactive tools that caregivers can access at their pace, based on their needs and interests. It provides customized information for all caregivers, including spouses, parents, family members, and friends who are providing care and support to their wounded, ill, or injured loved one.
“It is vital that we support the financial wellbeing of caregivers to help them build and sustain economic mobility,” said Steve Schwab, CEO, Elizabeth Dole Foundation. “We deeply appreciate our partnership with The USAA Educational Foundation and are committed to collaborations like this to ensure caregivers can find and obtain the resources they need, so they can focus on providing high-quality care for their loved ones.”
The partnership between The USAA Educational Foundation and the Elizabeth Dole Foundation combines the strengths of two organizations dedicated to supporting military and veteran caregivers through community, education, resources, and advocacy.
About the Elizabeth Dole Foundation
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation is the preeminent organization empowering, supporting, and honoring our nation’s 14.3 million military and veteran caregivers – the spouses, parents, family members, and friends — who care for America’s wounded, ill, or injured service members and veterans at home. Founded by Senator Elizabeth Dole in 2012, the Foundation adopts a comprehensive approach in its support and advocacy, working with leaders in the public, private, nonprofit, and faith communities to recognize military caregivers’ service and promote their well-being. The Foundation’s Hidden Heroes Campaign brings vital attention to the untold stories of military and veteran caregivers and provides a network for military and veteran caregivers to connect with their peers and access carefully vetted resources. Visit elizabethdolefoundation.org for more information.
About The USAA Educational Foundation
Since 1986, The USAA Educational Foundation, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, has served the military community by helping service members and their families become informed financial decision-makers through every life stage. The free, simple-to-navigate financial education available at usaaef.org is tailored for the military community, enabling service members and their families to understand essential financial concepts through a library of educational videos, interactive calculators, and downloadable worksheets.