Peggy Allen inducted into Lions of Michigan Foundation Hall of Fame
Peggy Allen with husband Barry after induction to Lions of Michigan Foundation Hall of Fame. Photo courtesy of Barry Allen.
by Sara Swanson
On Saturday, August 1, Peggy Allen was inducted into the Lions of Michigan Foundation Hall of Fame during a ceremony held in Mt Pleasant. As a charter member and founder of the Manchester Lions Club nineteen years ago, she quickly ascended the ranks to District Governor and then to Lions of Michigan Council Chair. This award is the culmination of over twenty years of serving the community and her many efforts on behalf of Lions locally, at the state level and internationally.
Allen has held ever major Lion’s Club office and participated in nearly every service activity and fundraiser. She has been awarded many Lions Awards including the International President’s Award, International Leadership Medal, and multiple Presidential Certificates of Appreciation.
As the state coordinator of the Lions Youth Exchange Program, she and her husband Barry hosted thirty seven high school aged kids from eight different countries and have visited most of them in Helsinki, Osaka and on a tour of Australia and New Zealand. Her husband, Barry Allen states, “Many have returned numerous times and enjoy Manchester as much as we do”.
She is a board member at Worth Repeating and works most Thurday afternoons supporting the community. As an added bonus, she purchases bags of clothing when the shelves are being purged for the season and drives a pickup truck load to the Lakota Sioux Indians in South Dakota every year.
In addition to being the Manchester Lions Secretary for many years, she currently is a Trustee on the board of the Penrickton Center for Blind Children, and a Trustee and newly elected Vice President of the Lions of Michigan Service Foundation.
Locally she has supported many efforts within the Manchester community over the years including spearheading the Kirk Park revitalization project, and continues to work on the Chicken Broil as the Box & Radish lady, Kids day at the Fair, Pumpkin bowling on Halloween, and the Kid’s Christmas. She and her husband provide numerous scholarships to graduating seniors and others. She was awarded the Claire Reck Award in 2016, Manchester’s now retired highest community service award.
Allen was nominated by the Manchester Lions and her nomination was endorsed by cabinet of District 11-B1. Manchester Lions Club president, Colleen McKenney explained that being inducted into the hall of fame is not automatic upon nomination and lots of members who are nominated are not selected. Allen was in fact nominated last year and not chosen until this year.
McKenney explained that it is impossible to list all of the things Allen has done for the community, but even if you could, you’d only know half of the story because you’d be missing all of the good she does on a personal level. She stated, “Peggy is like a mom to Manchester, she is hard on you because she believes in you and will push you hard to reach your potential, but you will always know she is there supporting you, whether it is out front or behind the scenes.
Barry added, “Don’t expect Peggy to slow down as she has reached the pinnacle of recognition. She will always find a way to give back to the community.”
Peggy Allen being inducted into the Lions of Michigan Foundation Hall of Fame. Photo courtesy of Colleen McKenney.
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