Evie King Named 2023 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 12, 2023) – Evie King was named the 2023 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year® today for her outstanding commitment to the military community. Her extraordinary leadership and tireless advocacy for mental health support and the overall well-being of military spouses have earned her this esteemed honor. Video of the awards ceremony is available here: https://www.youtube.com/live/Wqvb2q45SGU?feature=share.
Nominated by her peers, King's leadership is dedicated to bridging resource gaps and promoting inclusive mental health programs to ensure that all military spouses feel supported throughout their wellness journey.
As the child of two Army veterans and a military spouse for over a decade, King has gained invaluable insights into the needs and challenges our service members and their families face. As President of InDependent, an inclusive wellness community for military spouses, King's advocacy has drawn attention to the overlooked mental health struggles of military spouses by providing opportunities for healthy decision-making and accessible wellness resources such as the Fuel the Homefront™ workshop. This program is designed for military families who want to learn how to shop for more affordable, healthy foods and maintain a climate of wellness in their homes to help reduce food insecurity among military families. A 2022 Military Family Advisory Network study found that 1 in 6 military and veteran families was experiencing food insecurity.
"We take immense pride in acknowledging Evie King's exceptional commitment to our military community," shared Lt. Gen. Stanley "Sid" E. Clarke III, USAF (Ret.), Chairman of Armed Forces Insurance. "Her unwavering dedication to advocating for mental health wellness has sparked policy changes and generated much-needed resources that profoundly impact the daily lives of military families. This award is a testament to King's unyielding effort to prioritize and enhance military spouses' well-being. Her innovative leadership and advocacy are pivotal in forging a more resilient, inclusive, and healthier military community."
Before announcing the overall 2023 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year®, the finalists from each branch of service were honored at the annual awards luncheon, hosted at the Hilton Arlington National Landing hotel and attended by military, elected officials, and civilian VIPs.
The 2023 Branch Winners are:
2023 Army Spouse of the Year – Evie King
2023 Marine Corps Spouse of the Year – Natalie Ealy
2023 Navy Spouse of the Year – Tonya Murphy
2023 Air Force Spouse of the Year – Ashley Gutermuth
2023 Coast Guard Spouse of the Year – Andrea Cacciola
2023 National Guard Spouse of the Year – Allyson Sue Hash
2023 Space Force Spouse of the Year - Aimee Selix
These Branch Winners emerged from a pool of more than 500 nominees, advancing through three separate rounds of voting and a judges' panel review.
Initially the winner of the local level USAG Rheinland- Pfalz Spouse of the Year award, King was awarded the branch-level Army Spouse of the Year® title before ultimately being chosen as the overall 2023 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year®.
King is an alumna of The College of New Jersey and an active member of the Association of Latino Professionals for America.
The Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year® program, in its 16th year, is the nation's top military spouse honor and recognizes the critical role military spouses play in supporting the readiness and resilience of military families. The award recipients are inducted into a year-round program for military spouses to earn leadership credentials, expand their networks, learn valuable life and advocacy skills, and make a difference in their communities.
For more information about the Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year® award program, please visit msoy.afi.org.
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About Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year®
The Armed Forces Insurance (AFI) Military Spouse of the Year® Award was founded in 2008 by Chris Hale, CEO of veteran-owned Neptune Holdings, and after nine years as title sponsor, AFI assumed ownership in 2018. The award is presented at a base, branch and overall level each year to military spouses who are making a difference in their communities and providing a collective voice for spouses around the world. Through a national nomination and voting process, these nominees are judged on five core criteria: overall involvement in military community, exhibition of leadership skills, community building capability, communication skills and overall personal story. With more than one million military spouses worldwide, this award program aims to shine a spotlight on the force behind our armed forces. For more information, please visit www.msoy.afi.org.
About Armed Forces Insurance:
Armed Forces Insurance was founded in 1887 by military leaders with a single mission: to protect the property of those who protect our nation. The company provides premium quality, competitively priced property and casualty insurance to military professionals throughout the United States and overseas. Armed Forces Insurance understands that its members have unique circumstances and insurance needs, enabling the company to offer a level of personalized service that's unequaled in the industry. For more information, visit the website at www.afi.org or call 1-800-495-8234, and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.