Strong, kind, and principled, Betty Ford lived a life of service to others.

Betty’s advocacy and championship for equal rights and women’s health remains an inspiration and model of active citizenship. Join us for this special program to learn about:

• Growing Up in Grand Rapids. Growing up, Betty was an active and popular student who took an interest in dance and fashion. Girls will learn how Betty’s youth gave her the right foundation to lead an impactful life.

• The First Lady’s Role. The first lady has many responsibilities. Chief among these was an important diplomatic function: hosting formal dinners (“state dinners”) to welcome heads of state. Girls will put themselves in Betty’s place to plan a great state dinner experience celebrating America.

• The Equal Rights Amendment. Betty used her role as first lady to champion the passage of a Constitutional amendment that would have protected the rights of women. Girls will learn how women’s rights evolved over time and how to advocate for issues they care about.

• Fashion and Friendship. When her husband Gerald Ford served in Congress, Betty was active in an organization called the Congressional Club, where she helped organize a fashion show for charity. Girls will experience their own Betty Ford-era fashion show at the Museum.

• Using New Technology. Betty rallied support for her husband’s presidential bid using a new technology (the CB radio). What new communications technologies would Betty use today? Girls will think about this important question, and appropriate ways to use those technologies.

• Betty’s Legacy. Memorials and tributes to Betty on the Museum grounds will inspire girls to reflect on Betty’s legacy and think about what their own legacy might be.