Pitching In

By Amy Charles, MBA ’23

Allie Allen ’10 has combined her love of sports and desire to help others to create a significant difference for the youth of Eastern Kentucky.

She was part of the last graduating class of then Pikeville College, earning a communication degree that she utilizes not only in her career but also in her philanthropic work. As a preventions program assistant at Operation UNITE, she teaches vital programs on drug prevention and internet safety to students from kindergarten through high school. She credits the communication skills she learned in college with helping her to effectively engage with students.

Allen was heavily involved in campus life. She arrived on a soccer scholarship and later earned a cheerleading scholarship, allowing her to don the Pikey mascot costume from 2007 to 2010, just as her father had done. Her leadership on campus extended beyond sports. She served as class president her first year and vice president of the Student Government Association during her junior year.

“My involvement with student government allowed me to help people,” she said. “I did a lot of outreach with students to make them feel connected on campus. I feel like that’s where my heart for philanthropy blossomed. I learned how important it is to connect with people, and those experiences have been instrumental in building relationships in our community.”

It was also on “the hill” where Allen met her husband, Brad ’08, a football player from Breathitt County who is now in the UPIKE Athletics Hall of Fame. Their shared love for sports helped form a bond that still thrives today. He went on to become a teacher and head football coach at East Ridge High School before moving to Pikeville High School, where he is now the assistant principal and co-offensive coordinator.

The couple has dedicated themselves to giving back to their community by working with the youth. Last year, Allen established a Babe Ruth girls’ softball league, recognizing the lack of opportunities for young girls to play softball in the area. What started as a modest hope to gather 24 girls to create two teams became a league of 127 participants across multiple age groups.

“Once girls aged out of coach pitch, there was nothing for them until middle school. I knew other parents felt the same way,” said Allen. “I was humbled by the outpouring of support. The energy was incredible!”

In addition to the league, Allen launched Lyndel’s Closet, a donation center for gently used sports equipment named in honor of Lyndel Potter, a high school student-athlete and organ donor who passed away just before her senior year. The donation closet helps to provide sporting equipment at a deeply discounted rate to students who want to play sports but may not be able to afford the costly price tag of new equipment. All proceeds go toward covering expenses for the softball league.

“Sports are very important to us, but the equipment is expensive. Other cities have resale stores for gently used sporting goods, and it’s something I’ve wanted to do for years,” said Allen. “Throughout our softball registration, we had many parents ask about equipment and that reignited my desire to start a sporting goods donation center.”

Allen’s father is alive today thanks to organ donation, and Lyndel’s decision to become an organ donor as a teenager is something Allen felt like she should honor.

It’s about giving these items a second life, just like organ donation," said Allen. “Finances should not be a barrier to playing sports, and all children should feel equal on the field.

The inaugural season of the Babe Ruth league wrapped up with the 10U All-Star team earning runner-up in the district. For Allen, the personal rewards mean more than winning.

“Seeing the joy on these girls’ faces is what fuels my passion,” she said. “Hopefully, one day, they’ll feel inspired to give back, just like I have.”

To make a donation of gently used sporting equipment to Lyndel's Closet, please contact pikevillebaberuthsoftball@gmail.com