Making a Difference

Betty Bowman
Advisory Board Member, Something For Kelly Foundation

Betty Bowman has over eight years of experience working with those with eating disorders and
breaking the stigma of talking about mental health. Bowman started a support group for friends
and family with loved ones struggling with an eating disorder in 2017. She also aided the start
up of The Elisa Project in Dallas and helped train youth staff. She has mentored countless
individuals and spoken at events to advocate for healthy eating. Now, Bowman is on the
advisory board for the Something For Kelly Foundation, working 10-15 hours a week on new
initiatives in the organization.

“Doing all of this has just given me such [a] purpose,” Bowman said. “I’m 65 and so to do all
these things is just a blessing to feel like you’re making a difference in people’s lives, especially
young people.”

Something For Kelly is named in tribute to Kelly Burk Nobbe, who passed away from an eating
disorder in 2009. Their goal as a nonprofit organization is to empower and assist those with
eating disorders by offering comprehensive resources and raising awareness.

“Right now we’re trying to partner with other agencies or mental health organizations, we’re
trying to get youth on board to help us with our initiatives and whether it's manning a booth or
talking to a group,” Bowman said.

The organization’s current projects include joining with other mental health groups to show how
eating disorders are connected to a range of scientific and wellness issues. They currently
partner with Mental Health of America and the Grant Halliburton Foundation as well as the
Eating Disorders Genetic Initiative.

“We’ve come to find out that you don’t just wake up with an eating disorder,” Bowman said. “You
usually have multiple [disorders]. It’s important to be talking about the whole big picture rather
than just one thing or another.”

Bowman struggled with her own eating disorder when she was 17, at a time when there weren’t
as many support programs and not many people were talking about eating disorders.

“I knew what it did for my family and how hard it was to get well from it and people don’t
understand it,” Bowman said. “I think to make it a subject that people can talk about and know
what’s going on I think is very important.”

Bowman’s husband, Ed, and three kids support the cause by supporting her and being
understanding of her time and emotional commitments. Her family has lived in Preston Hollow
for 12 years, and her kids, aged 22, 26, and 27, are now all living on their own.
The Something For Kelly Foundation seeks volunteers to assist with events, as well as youth
members to get involved with the organization. You can find out more information about
donating and volunteering at their website: https://www.somethingforkelly.org/.