About The Callen Foundation

The Callen Foundation was establishedin 2011 for the purpose of helping active  duty Ohio military and their  families in need. We  are a legal Federal and Ohio 501(c)3 corporation.  100% of  all  public donations , less any PayPal fees , are distributed entirely  our Ohio  military families in need.  All administrative expenses  are covered by the Callen family directly.

Our Board Of Officers And Trustees - Current And Past  :

Chris D. Callen

Founder & pRESIDENT. sECRETARY & tREASURER

Derek DeBrosse, Esquire

Judge Advocate

Derek Andrew DeBrosse is a licensed Ohio attorney and founding partner in a Columbus, Ohio legal practice, Barney DeBrosse.  His emphasis is  in Gun Rights Restoration.  Derek is aDerek began his law practice immediately after law school in 2008 when he graduated from Regent University School of Law; Derek also holds a B.A. from The Ohio State University. Mr. DeBrosse’s practice not only focuses on rights restoration but also a variety of other firearm related matters from NFA issues to FFL representation. Derek has represented both individual, corporate, and grass-roots organizational firearm clients in both Federal and State court. Before entering into law school Derek served a combat tour of duty with the 1487th Transportation Company in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Derek has received various military accolades to include the Combat Action Badge, Army Commendation Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal. Mr. DeBrosse is licensed to practice in all Ohio State and Federal Courts, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals, U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals, U.S. Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. Mr. DeBrosse is a NRA Benefactor Life Member, NRA Golden Eagle Member, NRA Firearms Instructor, GLOCK Advanced Armorer, Smith & Wesson M&P Armorer, Defensive Edge Certified Armorer in Precision Rifle/AR15/M4/M16/LEO Shotgun, and member of various other pro Second Amendment organizations. In his free time Derek enjoys tactical firearms training, backpacking, scuba diving, white water rafting and anything outdoor related. Professionally Derek also serves as Midwest Regional Counsel for FFL Guard, General Counsel of Ohioans for Concealed Carry, Judge Advocate for the American Legion, Department of Ohio, and Judge Advocate for the Ohio Combat Infantryman’s Association.

Kim Hickman

Trustee

Kim also joined the Board in 2018. KIm is a retired Budweiser employee. Kim holds a Bachelors degree in Social Services. Kim is an avid supporter of our Ohio military families and welcomes the opportunity to serve them through particiaptation on The Callen Foundation Board. 

Michelle Welling

Trustee

Michelle is a retired US Army soldier with the Ohio National Guard who now serves  Ohio veterans as a Claims Processor with the Cleveland VA Hospital in Cleveland Ohio.  Michelle is committed to helping her fellow Ohio military families with their emergency financial needs.   

Alternate Trustees

Adam C. Callen

BACK UP Trustee

Adam Callen is the son of Chris Callen. He is the founder and owner of  several successful businesses located in New York City.  He firm Nydex is one of the nation's leading corporate cybersecurity  and artificial intelligence professionals.  His firm Black Market bottles and markets one fo the highest quality non alcoholic THC drink in the nation.  Adam is married and father of 3 children.  

Former Trustees & Board Members:

Nina L. Callen (Lynn)

Secretary (Deceased)

Lynn Callen (now deceased)  retired from teaching as a Special Education teacher in the Columbus Public School system. She spent 35 years in the teaching profession. Lynn graduated from Marshall College in Huntington, West Virginia and received her Masters degree in teaching at the University Of Kentucky. Lynn was married to Chris Callen and between them they had two children.. Her spirit and dedication to the Foundation will be greatly missed.

John S. Coppel

Secretary (Deceased)

John Coppel, (now deceased) Trustee, served 8 years as an officer with Huntington Bancshares, Inc, in Columbus, Ohio. Prior to joining The Huntington, John was a partner with Clark, Schafer Hackett & Co, CPAS, the largest regional CPA firm in Ohio, for 20 years. John has previous experience with several not- for-profit-boards of trustee and Director of Clark, Shafer Hackett & Co, CPAS, the largest regional CPA firm in Ohio, for 20 years.

Emma Hancock 

Bookeeper (Retired)

Emma is the President of EJB Hancock Bookkeeping Services. She is anactive member [for several years] of the National Society of Accountants, the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers, as well as the National Association of Tax Professionals. Pror to starting her firm she worked for Ameritech [AT&T], and supervised their COE Division of Revenue reporting in the State of Ohio.

Jerry Jodrey

Secretary (Deceased)

Jerry (now deceased)  served 25 years in the U. S. Army and attained the rank of First Sargent. He was a recipient of the US Army's highest  award, The Combat Infantrymen's Badge as well as two Purple Hearts for having been shot twice in Vietnam.  After retiring from active duty he joined the Franklin County (Ohio) Sheriff's Department where he served for 25 years until retirement as a Lieutenant .  Jerry   served as the Sunbury, Ohio VFW Post Commander for over 12 years and was named as a VFW All American Commander .  Jerry was original   Founder and Director of the official Ohio war on terror memorial, Ohio Fallen Heroes Memorial Park located in Sunbury, Ohio .  Jerry was past National Commander of the Combat Infantrymen's Association. Jerry was also selected as one of 26 military recipients of the Columbus Clippers Military Hero Baseball Card Collection military honoree collection.