HOW WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE
The Minnesota Military Family Foundation makes a difference not only in the lives of the military family, but also improves the morale and safety of our active military personnel.
An Army squad is made up of eight soldiers and when the squad is on patrol/mission, each soldier is dependent on each other for security and safety. When a soldier is distracted because of concerns about financial issues/difficulties with the family back home, every soldier on the squad is at risk because the soldier is not fully engaged in the patrol/mission.
The Minnesota Military Family Foundation helps turn a bad situation into a positive situation for all the soldiers in the squad.
The soldier feels the financial burden lifted and feelings of pride because of the support from the community at home. When the soldier is no longer focused on the financial situation at home, the soldier is able to stay engaged in the mission and protect the other soldiers in the squad to the fullest.
When we help one soldier, we help all soldiers. When we help one military family, we’re helping all military families
Meet the All Volunteer Board of Directors
Chairman
Bill Popp
Chair and President of POPP.com, Inc.
Bio
Mr. Bill Popp is our founder and Chairman.
Bill established the Minnesota Military Family Foundation back in 2004 – the number one request Bill hears from military members while they are serving is: “take care of my family“.
The Foundation is one of his crowning philanthropic achievements assisting service members who are in a financial crisis. In Bill’s words, “When we help one soldier, we help all soldiers. When we help one military family, we’re helping all military families.”
Executive Director and Secretary
Brigadier General Tim Kennedy
Retired
Bio
Tim Kennedy
Brigadier General US Army (Retired)
Retired from Minnesota National Guard, Minneapolis Public Schools, Honeywell and WennSoft
Board member since 2016
I serve on the board of the MMFF to support our currently serving personnel and their families. It requires sacrifices from both the service members and their families to serve this great country. When they face a financial crisis, the MMFF is there to help them through it.
Vice President
Thomas W Lyons
President Faelon Partners Ltd.
Bio
Thomas Lyons
Viet Nam Veteran of the U.S. Air Force
Founder and Principal partner of Faelon Partners
Board Member since 2010
Long-time host of Minnesota Military Radio
I serve on the board of the of the MMFF because it’s my duty to ensure that today’s troops are treated with the respect and dignity that they deserve after having risked their lives for our country.
Treasurer
Susan Kennedy
Retired
Bio
Sue Kennedy
My goal in retirement was to volunteer using my skills and experience to give back in a meaningful way. My husband and our family served for 37 years in the MN Army National Guard. Minnesota military families hold a special place in my heart!
Since 9/11, our service members and their families have been asked repeatedly to step up to serve our country. I feel blessed to be able to give back through the MMFF.
Tom Jenkins
President Marquette Capital Partners
Dr. David Hamlar
Brigadier General (retired)
Bio
David Hamlar MD, DDS
Brigadier General Minnesota Air National Guard (retired) where he was the Assistant Adjutant General.
Regions Hospital and HealthPartners Clinics staff.
University of Minnesota – training medical students and residents
Dr. Hamlar also is Chair of both the Department of Otolaryngology’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and the Medical School’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council.
Serves on multiple Boards to include:
Twin Cities Chapter Red Cross (Chair), KMOJ Radio (Chair), Minnesota Humanities Center, StarBase Minnesota, and NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center.
I serve on the Minnesota Military Family Foundation Board to assist our deserving service men and women in their times of need.
Dennis Angell
Federal Premium Ammunition (retired)
Bio
Dennis Angell
Dennis is a Marine Corps veteran who joined the Minnesota Military Family Foundation as a
volunteer board member in 2016, following his 35 years with Federal Ammunition. Along with
Federal, Dennis has been providing support to more than 20 military charity events and
fundraisers for 11 years. Dennis is a volunteer board member for the Veterans Memorial Park
of Blaine, the MC for their annual Memorial Day Program, and MC for the annual Fort Snelling
Cemetery Wreaths Across America event. I’m proud and honored to be a MMFF volunteer board member because our MN service members in need have earned and deserve help.
Jim Carey
Sieben Carey Law firm
Bio
Jim Carey
I am happy and honored to sit on the board of the Minnesota Military Family Foundation. As the father of two sons who served overseas, I have come to know first-hand the issues of importance that these soldiers face while deployed and upon their return. It is so fulfilling to be a part of an organization that is completely volunteer and absolutely committed to very promptly responding to service members and their families in a time of need.
R. Tim McElroy
SMSgt USAF (retired) and 3M (retired)
Bio
Tim McElroy
SMSgt (retired) U.S. Air Force, 1998
Retired from 3M in 2020
Board Member since 2020
I serve on the Foundation’s Board to help our service members and their families in time of need. Money was always tight as a junior enlisted airman and accumulation of any savings took a long time. I was blessed to always have a family “safety net” when a financial crisis arose which may not exist for all service members. Our foundation has become a “safety net” when circumstances look their bleakest for our Minnesota military and their families.
Philip “Buddy” Winn
Colonel, United States Army (retired)
Bio
Philip “Buddy” Winn
Colonel, United States Army (retired)
Buddy Winn is a retired U.S. Army Colonel with 37 years of service across the Active Army, and MN National Guard. His final assignment was as the State Chaplain for the Minnesota National Guard, where he provided senior-level counsel and care to service members, families, and commanders across the state.
Buddy also serves as Associate Chaplain at Fort Snelling Memorial Chapel and sits on the board of Footrock, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing restorative retreats and care for international ministry leaders and missionaries.
He and his wife, Colette, live in Osseo, Minnesota, and remain deeply committed to service, stewardship, and supporting those who serve our nation.
Brigadier General (Brevet) (Retired) Don Kerr
Minnesota Department of Military Affairs (retired)
Bio
Brigadier General (Brevet) (Retired) Don Kerr
Don Kerr served the State of Minnesota and the nation in and out of uniform for over 45 years. He enlisted as a Rifleman in the Minnesota National Guard in October 1979, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through Army ROTC in 1982. Don subsequently reported for active duty with the 5th Infantry Division at Fort Polk, Louisiana in June, 1985. He also served in the 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, Kansas.
After his discharge from the Regular Army in 1990, he re-joined the Minnesota National Guard serving in a myriad of duty positions, including battalion command, service on the Minnesota National Guard staff, and on the staff of the 34th Infantry Division. During that period, Don served as the 34th Infantry Division Chief of Staff in active service in Bosnia-Herzegovina in support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Stabilization Force mission.
His military service culminated with his assignment as the Director of Plans and Policy (J5) for the Minnesota National Guard, retiring from military service in 2008 as a Colonel after a 28-year uniformed career.
After his military retirement, Don was hired as a civilian planner by Department of Military Affairs, the State Agency that administers the National Guard. He served in that capacity until he was selected by the Adjutant General as the Executive Director of the Department of Military Affairs. In that role he was responsible to assist the Adjutant General in day-to-day management of the agency, oversight of the State civilian employee and state military staff, liaison with other state agencies, the Governor’s office, and the Minnesota Legislature. He retired from state civilian service in July 2025.
In 2017, at the recommendation of the Adjutant General, Major General Nash, he was granted a brevet promotion to the rank of Brigadier General by Governor Dayton.
His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Minnesota Distinguished Service Medal (two awards), Minnesota Medal for Merit, and the Air Assault Badge. Mr. Kerr was conferred a Bachelor’s of Science degree in the Liberal Arts from Regents College. He is a graduate of the Infantry Officers’ Basic and Advanced courses, the Bradley Commander’s Course, the U.S. Air Force Air-Ground Operations School, the Combined Arms and Services Staff School, and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
Beyond his military service, Don Kerr has also served in a volunteer capacity in the Association of the United States Army, is a past president of the General John W. Vessey Junior Chapter in Minnesota and as the Secretary of the Commander’s Own Chapter of the 34th Infantry Division Association. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Military Family Foundation.
Don Kerr resides in Cottage Grove, Minnesota with his wife, Brenda. They are the parents of four grown daughters, and grandparents of eight grandchildren.
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