By Kristi Antley
Lindsey Nicole Pilkington was a sharp, active, young woman with an infectious smile and glowing personality. Originally from Arkansas, she was employed by the Lexington Police Department IT Division in 2012 and had a passion for numbers, computers, and stimulating conversation. Lindsey was in great physical shape and held many titles in Judo, competing across the United States. On March 13, 2017, she was murdered in her home at the vibrant age of 31 by her estranged husband.
Lindsey’s family, friends, and co-workers made a vow not to allow Lindsey’s light to fade, but to elevate it so that others could be inspired by the things she represented and had accomplished. Together they created the Lindsey Pilkington Memorial Foundation to help empower women, educate the public, and raise awareness of domestic violence in the Midlands. Partnering with vetted and verified businesses and compassionate individuals has allowed the foundation to enrich the lives of countless women and their families since it was established in 2017.
The Lindsey Pilkington Memorial Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit that strives to provide and facilitate efforts to combat violence against women. Services are based on availability and need and include but are not limited to the following: prevention and awareness tools for youth, scholarships for Jiu-Jitsu training, counseling and mentoring therapies, self-defense techniques, firearms training for women who want to be better prepared, intervention and support for survivors, and immediate mental health services for women in distress. Members of the foundation also volunteer their expertise and personal time to benefit other programs and initiatives that support Lindsey’s mission.
Domestic violence takes many forms and exists on almost every level of society. The first person a victim turns to is most often a friend, family member, or trusted faith leader or therapist. The Lindsey Pilkington Memorial Foundation focuses on building the confidence and competence of individuals in the community to acknowledge, support, and uplift survivors. Although physical force is one means of power and control, it is often not the first one experienced. Being familiar with more subtle or non-physical types of abuse is an important part of being able to recognize situations that could potentially result in violence, both in your own life and other people’s lives.
Contributions from donors enable the foundation to provide services and resources for women in many different stages of life. This is where you can help; be an advocate and help combat domestic violence. For more information on how to get involved in the effort to protect victims of violence and spread awareness, visit LinzFoundation.com or follow their social media pages. For details regarding an upcoming opportunity on March 23, 2024, don’t miss an issue of Our Town Magazine!
