Our History & Founder

FUN AND FREEDOM was founded by the late Coach Deeni Riddle. Coach Riddle was a Physical Education Instructor for the Allegheny Valley School District (in Springdale, PA) for 30 years. There she also started a youth basketball league and was Head Coach of the High School Girls Basketball Team. In addition she traveled internationally with Athletes in Action Ministries and coached collegiate women’s basketball teams.

Her many years of coaching experience helped her understand what a powerful, positive impact sports can have in the development of young people. At the age of 32 (in January of 1979) Deeni accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and also came to understand what a powerful, positive impact the Lord can have in a life!

Years later – after taking an early retirement – Coach Riddle felt drawn to start a Christian youth sports organization where she could combine three things she loved: the Lord, working with youth and sports. Soon after, in 2003, she founded FUN AND FREEDOM, INC. – a 501 (C) (3) Christian Faith-Based Non-Profit Organization. What began as conducting only basketball activities has through the years grown into offering a myriad of youth sports!

Sadly, in September 2006, Coach Riddle passed away at the age of 58 after a seven month hard fought battle with Leukemia.