OUR MISSION
The Warrior Thunder Foundation provides programs to support former and current service members and their families in New England to improve their wellness and raise Veteran awareness in our communities.
WHO WE ARE
Simply stated, we are a group of Veterans, families of Veterans/military, and members of the community who came together because we believe the debt we owe our warriors and their families must continue to be repaid. They have sacrificed so much for us.
We are all volunteers!
Our Board of Directors consists of members who have over 33 years of military service; over 50 years of government service on Massachusetts military installations supporting the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard; and over 75 years of local community/military volunteer service. We will continue to give back.
OUR STORY
We started with the simple idea from one of our Directors to conduct a charity motorcycle ride to support our injured warriors. From there, the idea was well on its way to becoming a charitable, non-profit foundation that would support local disabled Veterans, wounded service men and women, and their Families through multiple Programs each year.
OUR PRESIDENT, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Darren Bean, President
Darren is the founder of the WTFI, a second-generation retired Army Sergeant Major, he has been a part of the military his whole life, serving for almost 23 years. He spent almost 9 years working for the Department of Defense developing combat equipment at Natick Soldier Systems Center. A disabled Veteran, Darren is a tireless advocate for Veterans and service men and women alike. Darren has been a member of and/or Senior Leader in many local Veteran Service Organizations. Darren leads the way in raising awareness for the needs of injured military, disabled Veterans, and their families.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Judi is one of the founding members of WTFI and brings over 20 years of Soldier support and healthcare experience to the foundation. While a military spouse, Judi established and led a military Family Readiness Group supporting families of deployed Soldiers. For many years, she has been a member of and supported many other Veteran charities as well as a volunteer at Soldier’s Angels, Any Soldier, and the local Salvation Army and cat shelter. Judi also brings a healthcare background to the foundation through her previous work with geriatric, pediatric, and substance abuse patients and her current job as a Vice President of Operations in the medical insurance field.
Adrienne Kinchla, Director
Adrienne grew up bragging about her grandfather who is a Pearl Harbor Survivor and also her great-uncle who earned the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Vietnam War. As a life member of Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed service fraternity, she is no stranger to community service. She has volunteered at many local events and worked with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and Natick Service Council.
Duane Young, Director
A veteran of the U.S. Army, Duane served 5 years as a mechanized Infantryman, working on and with the Bradley Fighting Vehicle until May of 2001, when he got out as a Sergeant. He studied Criminology at the University of Southern Maine for two years before enlisting in the Army. He was stationed at Ft. Hood, TX; Ft. Benning, GA, and 13 months in the Republic of South Korea. After living in Austin, TX for many years, he moved to Natick, MA to be close to family (originally from Bangor, ME). Duane has been a government employee for the Natick Soldier Systems Center since 2008, where he is currently the Office Manager for the NSRDEC Workforce Development Team. He also serves as the installation’s Softball Commissioner, and the Vice President of the Civilian Welfare Fund, which sponsors events and activities for the Civilians and Military personnel assigned to the installation.