Elizabeth Dole Foundation Announces 2026 Class of Dole Caregiver Fellows
WASHINGTON, May 12, 2026 – The Elizabeth Dole Foundation announced its 2026 class of Dole Caregiver Fellows, welcoming 23 military and veteran caregivers from 19 states into the nation’s premier program for caregiver leadership and advocacy. Selected through a competitive application process, the new Fellows will spend the next two years driving local action, mobilizing their communities, and advancing policy solutions on behalf of the 14.3 million Americans caring for a wounded, ill or injured service member or veteran.
“Our Fellows are the heart of this foundation. They carry the wisdom of their lived experiences that drive every meaningful change we make for military and veteran caregivers,” said Steve Schwab, CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. “The 2026 class joins us at a defining moment. With millions of caregivers stepping into a role that this country has only just begun to recognize, the leadership these Fellows bring will shape how communities, policymakers and the nation respond.”
The 2026 class will be formally introduced May 19 in Washington, D.C., during the foundation’s 11th Annual National Convening on military and veteran caregiving. Over the course of their two-year term, Fellows receive training and resources to engage their home communities, build local Hidden Heroes networks and work directly with the White House, Congress, the U.S. Departments of War and Veterans Affairs and other federal partners on issues affecting family caregivers and their loved ones.
The cohort reflects the full spectrum of military and veteran caregiving in America—spouses, parents, adult children, siblings and friends caring for loved ones living with the visible and invisible wounds of service. They understand firsthand what it means to step into a role no one prepared them for, to navigate complex systems on behalf of someone they love, and to hold a family together when the weight of that responsibility falls entirely on their shoulders. Fellows are available for interviews about their personal caregiving journeys, the challenges facing caregivers and the policy and community changes they are working to advance.
The 2026 Dole Caregiver Fellows are:
- Christine Amacker – New Orleans, La.
- Jenna Bryant – Durham, N.C.
- Kellene Cole – Homestead, Fla.
- Maiko Corleone – Pensacola, Fla.
- Stacy Greathouse – Kenna, W.Va.
- Serena Guimarey – Las Vegas, Nev.
- Joseph Hermocillo – Pueblo West, Colo.
- Lorna Illerbrunn – Rye, N.H.
- Deidra Jackson – Oak Park, Ill.
- John Kavanagh – Tahlequah, Okla.
- Micha Kohl – Gaithersburg, Md.
- Joseph Lynchard – Rustburg, Va.
- Mattia Lynchard – Rustburg, Va.
- Denise Mundy – Atlanta, Ga.
- Elizabeth Musselman – Bethesda, Md.
- Lucienne Piper – Westbury, N.Y.
- Dedra Reed – Gardner, Kan.
- Shannon Shimer – Belfast, Maine
- Elizabeth Snell – Colville, Wash.
- Cortny Stark – Albuquerque, N.M.
- Danielle Vincent – Wilsonville, Ore.
- Cindy Woodman – Pocatello, Idaho
To request an interview with a 2026 Dole Caregiver Fellow or a foundation spokesperson, contact Jodi Sheedy at media@elizabethdolefoundation.org.
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About the Elizabeth Dole Foundation & Hidden Heroes
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, siblings, family members, and friends who care for America’s wounded, ill or injured service members and veterans. Established by Sen. Elizabeth Dole in 2012, the foundation works to empower military and veteran caregivers, their families and their communities through programs, partnerships and advocacy that drive innovative, impactful, and sustainable solutions. The foundation’s Hidden Heroes public awareness campaign brings vital attention to the untold stories of military and veteran caregivers, galvanizing action to strengthen support for them in communities across the nation. Visit elizabethdolefoundation.org for more information.