Batter up, huddle up, tee it up, aim high and all those other fun sports cliches. United Way is proud to announce its 2023 Campaign co-chairs who are going to change the game for this community.
As the 2023 campaign for the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties is about to kick off, leading the way are four WVU coaches’ wives — Brooke Brown, Kate Covich, Lindsay Hammond and Amanda Mazey — who are committed to helping raise $1.3 million this fall for local programs assisting those in need.
Brown is the wife of WVU head football coach Neal Brown, and together, they have three children, Adalyn, Anslee and Dax.
The former kindergarten teacher now works as the “chaos coordinator” for Team Brown, which means she is always chasing her three kids and getting them to their sports and other activities. In addition to this role, she’s a huge Mountaineers fan and cheers the team on while her husband calls the shots on the field.
When asked to become a co-chair for the 2023 United Way Campaign, Brown agreed because she said that she was deeply involved with Power of the Purse, a fundraiser organized by the United Way’s Women United group, when she first came to town. This event struck a chord with her, especially because its focus was on raising money for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that gets free books to kids in the community. As a former elementary teacher, she knows the importance of literacy, especially for early education.
Though she hasn’t been in Morgantown long, she said she loves making investments in this community through local organizations and has fallen in love with West Virginia.
“I love the beauty of West Virginia and really enjoy experiencing all four seasons here in Morgantown,” Brown said. “The people of this community and state are so down-to-earth, hardworking and humble.”
Covich is the wife of WVU head golf coach Sean Covich, and together, they have one son, Keenan, who is a fifth grader at St. Francis. Covich is a real estate agent with J.S. Walker Associates, which, she noted, is a United Way Pacesetter company.
When she’s not working as a board member for the United Way, a board member for the WVU Fellowship of Christian Athletes or for the St. Francis PTO, you can find her spending time in her yard, traveling and, of course, following her husband and son on the golf course.
She enjoys the plethora of outdoor opportunities in West Virginia, and she loves the combination of the beautiful, natural landscape mixed with a homey atmosphere. She believes wholeheartedly in volunteerism and giving back to this welcoming community.
“Whether it’s through your time volunteering, your talents of service, or your financial means, giving to the United Way is vital for our community to be successful,” she said. “Giving to our United Way in these ways challenges me to ‘leave it better than I found it.’ I think it’s important for all of us, whether we are here for seasons of our life or our entire life, that we find ways to serve and give back to the community and people that make ‘Almost Heaven’ home to us.”
Hammond is married to Jon Hammond, WVU rifle team head coach, and they have three children together, Lewis, Archie and Hugh. She works as a professor of sport management and volunteers for St. Ursula’s Food Pantry and Outreach and Morgantown Hockey Association.
In her spare time, you might find Hammond with her husband and boys exploring the great outdoors in West Virginia — one of her favorite things to do — but she’s also quick to add, “there is nothing quite like singing ‘Country Roads’ with 60,000 fans at Milan Puskar Stadium after a Mountaineer win.”
Hammond agreed to become a campaign co-chair because she’s seen how United Way dollars go to work in Mon and Preston counties.
“A gift to the United Way is an investment in our community,” she said. “Every donation has a direct impact on our local community, improving lives and creating opportunities for those who need it most.”
Mazey is the wife of WVU baseball coach Randy Mazey, and together, they have two children, Weston and Sierra; two dogs, Aspen and Easton; and even a pet duck named Kona.
Mazey works as a TV sports anchor for Mountaineer GameDay and ESPN+, and she’s the director of social engagement for the Country Roads Trust. In her spare time, she’s doing anything she can outdoors, from hiking to fishing to nature photography.
She enjoys the sense of community in West Virginia and that people here are proud to call the Mountain State home. Those are just a couple of the reasons she wants to give back by serving as campaign co-chair.
“The United Way touches so many residents in so many different ways,” she said. “There are very few organizations that offer the resources that United Way offers. When you give, you can know that you are absolutely making a difference in someone’s life. What a beautiful and simple way to make a difference in your community.”
AMANDA POSEY is the director of marketing and communications for the United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties. She can be reached at amanda@unitedwaympc.org.
