Spotlight: Kristin Walker Collins

Kristin Walker Collins is the Chief Operating Officer of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky (Foundation) in Hazard, Kentucky, the only nationally accredited community foundation in southeastern Kentucky. Before starting her career in philanthropy, Kristin worked as an attorney specializing in Family Law and Municipal Law with the law firm of Hollon & Collins. Kristin obtained her Juris Doctorate from Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University, and a B.S. in Integrated Strategic Communications with a Minor in Business from the University of Kentucky.

Kristin is active in many community activities including serving as a member of InVision Hazard, Vice-President of the Hazard-Perry County Chamber of Commerce, and serves as President of Redbud Financial Alternatives, Inc, and of the Appalachian Early Childhood Network. She is the founder and President of the Hazard Rotary Club Foundation, Inc., which operates the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Perry County, Kentucky, a program providing a free book a month to children under the age of five and is a member of the Perry County Literacy Coalition, and the Perry County Kindergarten Readiness Collaborative. In addition, she is Past-President of the Hazard Rotary Club, and former President-Trustee of the Perry County Public Library.

In her (little) free time, she enjoys traveling the world, visiting with family and friends, and reading. Kristin resides in Hazard, Kentucky with her husband, Jonathan, a local attorney, and their daughters, Palmer and Piper.

Kristin believes that learning doesn’t just begin when children enter Kindergarten. It starts from the moment they enter the world, and before. Learning opportunities are everywhere but we must create an environment for learning. Quality child care is important not only to children and families, but to communities too. Child care is everyone’s issue, and AECN’s role is to help make people understand.