Written by Marketing Intern Katy Rowan
She was known as a former first lady, an outspoken voice, and a champion for the causes she believed in. To put it quite simply, Betty Ford was a rare and special breed.
As we all know, the former first lady to Gerald Ford passed away on July 8, 2011. She’s said to have touched more lives than any president could ever dream of, and she’ll never be forgotten.
Most notably, though, her legacy will never be forgotten, either. After battling breast cancer and alcoholism, Ford quickly became known for the candid way she exposed her problems and then overcame them. She didn’t let her time in the White House go to waste and made sure to make her opinion known on the contested issues of the time.
Furthering her persistent attitude and warm spirit, she opened the Betty Ford Center in 1982, the world’s first licensed addiction hospital. Ford’s goal was to erase the stigma attached to addiction problems, and she did so with a bang.
Now the center offers the highest quality addiction services to over 97,000 men, women, and their families, according to the center’s website. How’s that for bringing a societal ill to the spotlight and then encouraging others to seek help?
As I mentioned before, Betty Ford was one of a kind. The strength she exuded and the confidence she boasted made her an incredible role model. She was a first lady, yes. But she never stood behind the scenes, and because of that, she left a significant mark on this world.
I can only dream of one day becoming half of the woman she was; rest in peace, sweet lady. You were loved dearly and will be missed greatly.
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