Captain Nichola Goddard Fund created to support female military personnel

True Patriot Love has partnered with the Goddard family to launch the Captain Nichola Goddard Fund sometime in 2018.

Capt. Goddard died while serving west of Kandahar city during an ambush on May 17, 2006. At the age of 26, Goddard became the first female Canadian soldier to die in a combat role.

“The Captain Nichola Goddard Fund will continue Nichola’s legacy and support women during and after their service. Caring for her troops in the field and when they came home was incredibly important to Nichola, and we’re excited to partner with True Patriot Love on this initiative moving forward,” said Sally Goddard, mother of Nichola Goddard.

Since the loss of their daughter, the Goddard family has funded various projects to keep Capt. Goddard’s legacy alive. These funds have been used for scholarship programs and for programs in Papa New Guinea, where Capt. Goddard was born.

Hoping to expand projects and to do something meaningful for female Canadian serving members and veterans, the Goddard family approached TPL.

“We thought it was a really great fit for our organization, said Bronwen Evans, CEO of True Patriot Love Foundation.

The Captain Nichola Goddard Fund will go towards providing various essential programs for servicewomen, female Veterans, and their families. Services could include mental health support, adaptive sports programs or tutoring needs for children with special needs.

A gift of $200,000 has already been made by Canso Investment Counsel Ltd.

“We are honoured that the Goddard family has asked True Patriot Love to set up and manage a fund in Nichola’s name – a fund that will remind us of Nichola’s legacy and her love for her fellow soldiers. Nichola reminds us that all people should have an equal opportunity to make for themselves the lives they wish to have,” stated Evans.

Additional details about the Captain Nichola Goddard Fund will be announced in the new year.