NEWTOWN, Conn. – Sandy Hook Promise (SHP), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing gun violence in schools, homes, and communities has welcomed four new members to its board of directors, as well as the organization’s first chief development officer. Each new addition brings a wealth of different business perspectives and experience to SHP, helping to further its mission to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence.
The new board members include Jadine Chou, partner at PAX Group; Dr. Chethan Sathya, a pediatric trauma surgeon and researcher with Northwell Health and Cohen Children’s Medical Center; Alexander P. Heckler, founder and managing partner of LSN Partners, LLC and LSN Law, PA; and Ed Lehrman, founder and managing partner of Vine Connections (retired). Additionally, Courtney Spellacy, an experienced fundraiser and development leader, joined SHP in early January as chief development officer.
“We’re beyond excited to welcome these extraordinary leaders to Sandy Hook Promise as we expand our reach and deepen our impact in protecting children from violence,” said Nicole Hockley, co-founder and co-CEO of SHP. “Their passion for our mission is truly inspiring, and the depth of expertise they bring from across industries will spark bold new ideas and strategies to help us reach and serve even more youth and adults across the country.”
Jadine Chou brings deep expertise in advancing youth safety and preventing violence, honed through her transformative leadership at Chicago Public Schools, where she served as chief of safety and security for over 14 years. In this role, she led one of the nation’s largest school district safety initiatives, prioritizing student well-being through restorative practices, trauma-informed approaches, and strong community partnerships. Her work helped shift the narrative from punitive discipline to holistic, student-centered safety. Jadine’s dedication to youth protection continues in her current role at PAX Group, where she advances safety strategies rooted in equity and authentic community engagement. Prior to her public sector work, she spent two decades in corporate America before bringing her leadership talents to public service in pursuit of lasting social impact.
Dr. Chethan Sathya, MD, MSc, is a nationally recognized voice in framing gun violence as a public health epidemic – and has been driving innovative, evidence-based solutions to prevent tragedies. As a pediatric trauma surgeon and NIH-funded firearm injury prevention researcher, Dr. Sathya leads Northwell Health’s Center for Gun Violence Prevention, where he integrates clinical insight with community-based strategies to reduce firearm injuries and deaths. As vice president of strategic initiatives at Northwell, he brings a unique perspective at the intersection of public health and technology to address one of the most pressing issues facing youth today. His frontline experience treating gun violence, coupled with his research and policy leadership, directly supports Sandy Hook Promise’s mission to protect children through prevention, education, and systemic change. Dr. Sathya also serves as trauma director at Cohen Children’s Medical Center and assistant professor of surgery and pediatrics at the Zucker School of Medicine.
Alexander P. Heckler is the founder and managing partner of LSN Partners, LLC, a full-service bipartisan consulting firm, and LSN Law, PA, a law firm focused on procurement, administrative law, as well as land use and zoning. In addition to being an entrepreneur and philanthropist, Alex holds leadership or active roles in many charitable, community, and political organizations, including the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, the Democratic Governors Association, YPO America’s Gateway Chapter, (former) board member of Beyond Differences, a national youth-focused nonprofit that recently became part of Sandy Hook Promise.
Ed Lehrman (now retired) was the founder & managing partner at Vine Connections, a national wine and Japanese sake importer focused on introducing emerging regions to the US market. For more than 22 years, Lehrman oversaw all departments with the company. Additionally, Lehrman served for six years on the board of directors with Beyond Differences.
Chief Development Officer Courtney Spellacy brings two decades of experience in organizational leadership and development to the organization. Spellacy most recently served as vice president of development at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, leading fundraising and strategic partnerships. Before that, Spellacy spent ten years with the ACLU, overseeing development efforts, partnership initiatives, and board engagement across three state affiliates in Massachusetts, California, and Arizona.
Sandy Hook Promise has made a substantial impact nationwide since its founding in 2013, supported by a network of more than 12 million Promise Makers who have made The Promise to protect children from gun violence. More than 35 million youth and adults have participated in the Know the Signs violence prevention programs that teach the warning signs and how to get help. And the organization’s Emmy-winning viral PSAs are effectively driving awareness and collective action to end school shootings and gun violence. The Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund has written, developed, and passed legislation under every U.S. president since the organization was founded, as well as across several states. All of this work has led to the prevention of at least 18 credible planned school shooting attacks, hundreds of youth suicides, and countless other acts of violence.
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Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
Media Contacts:
Aimee Thunberg | [email protected] | 203-491-7472