A national nonprofit dedicated to helping communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.
The Kalla Foundation
Meet the Kalla Family
Rooted in a longstanding family tradition of public service, our organization was established by brothers Gabriel and Braden Kalla in direct response to the devastating disasters that struck Kentucky in 2025. Guided by the Kalla family’s commitment to service, we are dedicated to closing critical gaps in disaster preparation, response, and recovery and extending support from our family to yours.
Gabriel Kalla
Founder and President
Born and raised in Frankfort, Kentucky, the capital city, Gabriel Kalla grew up surrounded by a strong culture of public service, both at home and within his community. Influenced early by this environment, he developed a passion for serving others and began volunteering in grade school with his family at local retirement homes, soup kitchens, churches, and other community organizations. After graduating from Franklin County High School, he remained determined to make a lasting impact on his community.
He later earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Georgetown College, where he was a member of the President’s House Association fraternity and the Theta Alpha Kappa honor society, and he is now a candidate for a master’s degree in public administration at the University of Kentucky’s Martin School of Public Policy and Administration where he is a member of the Pi Alpha Alpha honor society. Additionally, he has worked alongside many of Kentucky’s brightest leaders, having been personally mentored by and interned with Congressman James Comer and his staff on the House Oversight Committee, Congressman Andy Barr, and John McCarthy’s lobbying firm, McCarthy Strategic Solutions. Through these experiences, he has gained invaluable, hands-on knowledge uncommon among his peers at his age.
Inspired by his experiences and education, as well as the devastating disasters that struck Kentucky in the early months of 2025, he founded the Kalla Foundation in August 2025 using a $1,000 scholarship he received from the University of Kentucky. As president, he brings a fundamental understanding of how to ethically and efficiently operate a disaster relief nonprofit organization and aims to set the national standard for how such organizations are run. Today, Gabriel has been working alongside public leaders and community advocates to build strategic partnerships, pilot effective programs, and strengthen local resilience throughout Kentucky and beyond in furtherance of the Kalla Foundation’s mission.
Want to get in contact? Send Gabriel an email, or follow him on Instagram!
Braden Kalla
Vice President
Braden Kalla is a lifelong resident of Frankfort, Kentucky, and a proud graduate of Franklin County High School. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in accounting and political science at Georgetown College. While completing his degree, Braden has built a strong foundation in government and public service. He began his career in state government as a constitutional page for the Kentucky House of Representatives during the 2024 Legislative Session, where he supported legislative staff and gained firsthand insight into the policymaking process. He later joined the Office of Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman, assisting detectives and attorneys across several divisions, including the Department of Criminal Investigations and the Office of Consumer Protection. These experiences strengthened his understanding of how state agencies serve the public and the importance of working with accuracy, integrity, and attention to detail.
Braden has always been drawn to public safety, following in his family’s legacy of service. He has continued developing that interest through programs such as the Scott County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Police Academy. His commitment to public safety deepened during the severe flooding that hit Frankfort in 2025. Working alongside neighbors and first responders during the recovery showed him both the strengths and weaknesses in local preparedness. It was this experience that motivated him to play a more active role in strengthening disaster relief and readiness across Kentucky.
As Vice President of the Kalla Foundation, Braden combines his background in government, his passion for public safety, and his education to support the successful implementation of the organization’s programs and ensure transparency and accountability in all financial operations.
Want to get in contact? Send Braden an email, or follow him on Instagram!
“Here at the Kalla Foundation, we put family first. Our mission is based on providing communities with the same level of care, urgency, and dedication that we would provide for our own. Everything we do is driven by the belief that strong, prepared communities start with people who look out for one another.”
— Braden Kalla, Vice President