Elizabeth Ford grew up in Reston, VA, where her early years were marked by hardship and hunger. At just seven years old, she experienced food insecurity firsthand when her babysitter—who often provided her only evening meal, a slice of hotdog on toast—turned her away because her mother couldn’t afford to pay. This moment was just the beginning of a childhood filled with instability and uncertainty.

Frequent evictions forced Elizabeth and her mother to move constantly, leaving her without a reliable source of nourishment and guidance. She often sat outside a local 7-Eleven, asking passersby for quarters to buy hotdogs or whatever food she could afford. With her mother struggling with mental health challenges, Elizabeth had to fend for herself in a community where resources like food pantries were nonexistent. By 19, she was homeless, living in a hotel learning how to survive on her own.

Without a stable home or support system, education took a backseat to survival. Elizabeth dropped out of high school after ninth grade, later earning her GED while working multiple jobs—often waiting tables and pulling double shifts just to secure a meal. During this period, she also endured a decade-long abusive marriage, unaware of what a healthy, loving relationship looked like, all while fighting to break free from the cycle of poverty.

Determined to rewrite her story, Elizabeth eventually became a single mother, balancing full-time work with online college courses. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in IT with a specialization in Advanced Networking, which led to a successful career in IT security for the government and contractors. Yet, despite her professional achievements, her past struggles with hunger and hardship remained at the forefront of her mind, fueling her passion for change.

Today, Elizabeth is remarried and part of a blended family with five children. She now devotes herself full-time to BetterALife, the nonprofit she founded to combat childhood hunger. Alongside her family, she works to expand the organization’s reach nationwide, ensuring that no child has to experience the same uncertainty she once faced. Through her dedication and resilience, she is transforming lives—one meal at a time.

How to reach us:

Connect with Patricia Gallardo, Associate Broker/Realtor at Real Broker
Mobile: 703.980.4594
Email: pkghomes@gmail.com
Website:http:/www.livinginloudoun.com
LinkedIn. - https://www.linkedin.com/in/patriciakgallardo/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/patriciagallardohomes/
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2wX5mpqv74fslT5BkRypdQ
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PKGHomes

Connect with Karen Daily, Attorney
Office: 703.573.3556
Email: kdaily@ekkotitle.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karendaily/
Instagram: @karenekofo
TikTok: @karenekofo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KDailyEkofo

Marcus Simon is a lifelong resident of Fairfax County, where he resides with his wife Rachel, and two children, Emily and Zach. Early in his public service career, Marcus served as an officer in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps. He is a co-founder of the Law Firm of Leggett, Simon, Freemyers & Lyon and EKKO Title, a real estate settlement, title, and escrow company.

First elected as Delegate in 2013, he currently chairs the House Public Safety Committee and serves on the Courts of Justice, General Laws, and Rules Committees. He's proud of his work to expand voting rights, to protect our communities with common sense gun violence prevention initiatives, to address the student loan debt crisis, and to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The 13th House District, which he represents, includes the entire City of Falls Church and parts of Fairfax County.

In this episode, Delegate Simon talks about the process for bills being introduced, the length of this year's session, and the effect of the short session on introduced bills and state budget. Delegate Simon also talks about laws that will be tweaked due to unforeseen outcomes when the General Assembly passed the law.

Delegate Simon's contact information is below:

www.marcussimon.com

delmsimon@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Office - (804) 689-1013

Meet our guests:

Diane Griffin Goldberg, EVP with Griffins Owens Insurance Group

Griffin Owens Insurance Group was founded in 1981 by Chris Griffin, who was soon joined by her husband, Don Owens, in 1983, marking the official formation of the firm. I began my journey with Griffin Owens at the age of 15, initially as an agent and now proudly serving as co-owner.

Our agency holds a deep commitment to community service, a value instilled by my mother, who always reminded me, “To whom much is given, much is expected.” In keeping with this ethos, Griffin Owens actively supports impactful organizations such as Kids R First, Cornerstones, and LINK, among others.

My family moved to Herndon, Virginia, in 1976. After completing my education at Herndon High School, I graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Finance, with a minor in Insurance. During my early career, I moved to New York City, where I met my husband. We later married there and established our first home in McLean, Virginia, in 1999, where we currently reside with our two daughters.

Donna Seeker, Co-Owner of Donofrio & Associates Property Inspections

Donna Seeker has been with Donofrio & Associates since 2009 and has been instrumental to their growth over the years. Donna continues to contribute to the development and expansion of the company through her marketing efforts.

Resa Cee Kierstein, CEO of Floor Coverings International
She is responsible for all business operations for the company including business development, operations, finance, HR, and marketing.

Before taking this role in 2019, Resa was Vice President of development for SCORE, SBA partner focused on supporting small businesses, with a keen focus on veterans and families. In previous roles, Resa was responsible for securing funds through fundraising and development to support a variety of charitable and non-profit organizations.