About Us

Board of Directors

Heroes Haven for Veterans Inc. was founded in December 2024.  

The Board Members are volunteers.  

The Board of Directors is comprised of three veterans and three professionals who often serve on other Boards of Various Nonprofits, 

 are Community Leaders, are Community Event Organizers, and one helped to previously create a Sober Housing Program for women! 

Our Board of Directors have collectively helped raise approximately $1.1 million dollars in the past for various community events and projects 

as individuals or in partnership with various organizations. Now they are focusing on Heroes Haven and its mission to help Veterans. 

President George McCarthy

Judge McCarthy created the Athens County Veterans Treatment Court  in 2015 and often sees participants struggling to obtain housing. 

Even though there is a HUD(VASH) program for disadvantaged veterans, the wait is often a year or more for an apartment 

to become available.  Any short-term help often gets used up and they are faced with the real possibility of homelessness.  

Hence, he helped start this not-for-profit organization in part to help those affected. 

Judge McCarthy serves as both a Board Member and volunteer for various not-for-profits including The TBI Foundation, Athens Sandlot, 

Athens Banner Project,  and previously for the Ohio District Kiwanis Foundation. 

He is the co-Founder and current President of the Athens Area Stand Down.  Since 2016 it holds an annual event that distributes good and

services to Veterans that are displaced to help get them through the winter months.  This event brings together more than 

30 community organizations including businesses, veterans' clubs, service providers, counseling agencies, health organization, the Veterans Administration and Ohio University to help disadvantaged veterans in Athens and surrounding counties.   

Judge McCarthy was also a volunteer firefighter for the Richland Area Fire Department for 25 years.

Vice President Tom Abrahamson

Navy Veteran (Vietnam).   

He currently serves as President at the Native American Education Association Inc. 

He has volunteered his time and fundraising efforts to help with the Athens Area Stand Down and numerous other organizations. 

Treasurer Debby Fulks

Owner of all three locations of Court Street Coffee, Debby was long time Treasurer for the Kiwanis Club of Athens

 (Morning Club).  She also volunteers on the Salvation Army Emergency Funds Committee

She also has helped Athens Area Stand Down and many other organizations. 

Secretary Heather Figueora

Heather is a Life Member of Auxiliaries of VFW, AMVETS, and American Legion. 

Current Ohio VFW Auxiliary Chaplin, she in line to be Dept. of Ohio President in 2028. 

Board Member George Kidder

Navy Veteran (Vietnam Era) 

Owner and Operator of Kidder Entertainment of Ohio. George has often lent his talent to help with 

obtaining entertainment fundraising events for various charities including Earth Angels (Similar to Make a Wish), the TBI Foundation, the Elks, 

and veteran causes such as Valor Retreat.

Board Member Jayne Darling

Air Force Veteran

Co-Founder Serenity Grove (Women Sober Living House)

Treasurer for Ornery vets Collective which provides free weekly lunches and fellowship to disadvantaged veterans 

Thank you to the  Athens VFW for their support of our efforts and their donation of  $15,000!

That has helped get us going!  We have officially filed and become a recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization!

We hope you will join us on this journey! With your support we can reach out to veterans and let them know they are not alone or forgotten!