About us

Hattie M. Allen is the Founder of the Hattie Allen Foundation, Inc. a South Florida non-profit organization that serves youth within the Miami-Dade County.

Hattie M. Allen was born in Hemingway, South Carolina and later moved to Miami, growing up in Overtown. She lived with her family and as a child, she truly believes that it definitely took a village to raise a child. Growing up in one of Miami’s poorest communities, everyone supported and helped out when they could. Her childhood consisted of going to school, playing in the streets with the neighborhood children and seeing her parents struggle in order to keep food on the table, and a roof over their heads.

Despite not having what most children her age had living in surrounding neighborhoods, being born blind, not only has been had its challenges for Ms. Allen but it has also helped her see her disability in a wider prospective such as using her disability to inspire others and starting her own for profit business. As a goal driven leader, Ms. Allen continues to build her legacy and propel herself to do all she can despite her disability.

and not being able to see After graduating from Hialeah Miami Lakes she later attended Miami-Dade College. As a person who was limited with resources within her community, Ms. Allen, defines poverty as something that means a lot to her “growing up my parents worked and we still struggled to make ends meet, we went without a lot all of the time”. Ms. Allen grew up in the inner city, and believes that the foundation that was laid for her allowed her to want to show youth that they are not forgotten and someone cares.

As a child growing up, and seeing her family struggle, Ms. Allen knew she wanted to give back to her community and she promised herself that she would do so once she became an adult. As a parent herself, family means love, compassion, and support. Ms. Allen believes that hard work and dedication is what helped her raise her children and even though she has never seen their faces, she knows that her heart is the footprint in all she does.

Allen has provided Thanksgiving meals, toys to children at Christmas, and backpacks to children entering school for the first time. Allen’s love for youth and education specifically around educating children with disabilities, lead her to begin changing lives for youth in her community.

Since its inception, the Hattie Allen Foundation has been strongly committed to its mission of young people everywhere have the right to be happy and to live a peaceful, carefree lifestyle. Youth should have the opportunity to travel and have sleepovers with friends, they should have a sense of security and contentment, not of being frightened and alone. In reality, there should be nothing in the way that destroys their innocence or prevents them from fulfilling their dreams.

Ms. Allen has been recognized in her community by the City of Miramar Mayor, Wayne Messam for her hardwork and dedication and service to her community. Currenting residing in Miami Gardens, Mrs. Allen is married to Bernard Allen and they have two adult children, a son Ceasar and a daughter Quinntalya. She also has three handsome grandsons, Jaquan, Jaquori, and Kahlil.