Family Chance
Family Chance offers families the opportunity to build the skills they need to succeed. Focused on both caregivers and individuals with disabilities, these practical, skills-based programs provide tools and knowledge to help families confidently navigate daily life - giving every family a real chance to thrive.
Family Events
2025 Merry Mall
Details
Knock out all of your holiday shopping in one stop! Be escorted through the Merry Mall with the help of an "Elf" buddy and select a gift for each off the loved ones of your list. Visit the Reindeer Cafe for pizza and other tasty treats, complet a craft at Comet & Cupid's Craft Barn, and listen to festive music while your gifts are being wrapped for you at Santa's Workshop! We might even get a visit from a few special guests!​
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Date: Saturday, December 13th
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Time: 2:00-4:00pm
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Location: J.R. Tucker High School (2910 N Parham Rd, Henrico, VA 23294)
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Ages: Family members of all ages are invited to enjoy the holiday fun! Please note that shopping in the Merry Mall is reserved only for participants with disabilities ages 5-40.
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Cost:
$30 per family with 1 participant (Each participant will shop for 5 gifts!)
$40 per family with 2 participants
$50 per family with 3 participants
$5 for each additional gift (maximum 10 gifts total per shopper)
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Details
Join us for Hearts in Action Day! Celebrate community and connection through your choice of activities - get creative with a variety of art projects or get active with a sports field day experience. Partner with buddies from St. Christopher’s School as we come together to create, play, and celebrate the heart of our community.​
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Date: Tuesday, November 4th
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Time: 9:30am - 11:15am
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Location: St. Christopher's School (711 St Christopher's Rd, Richmond, VA 23226)
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Ages: 5-40
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Cost: $10
Hearts in Action Day:
Celebrating and Embracing Community
Life in the Community Conference
Details
Jacob's Chance, which is a part of the Central Virginia Transition into Adulthood Coalition, is sponsoring this must-attend conference for teens and adults with disabilities and their caregivers! ​
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Date: Saturday, November 1st
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Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
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Location: Chesterfield Career and Technical Center Thomas R. Fulghum Conference Center Hull Street Campus (13900 Hull Street Road, Midlothian, VA 23112)
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Ages: 13+
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Cost: $25
Participant-Focused Workshops
Financial Literacy Series
with Virginia Credit Union
Details
Learn the ins and outs of personal finance in this upcoming workshop series, presented by our friends at Virginia Credit Union! Over the course of 5 weeks, we will explore topics like Banking Basics, Building a Budget, Understanding Credit, Saving Strategies, and Preventing Fraud.
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*Caregivers are encouraged (but not required) to attend!*
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Dates: Mondays, September 29th - November 3rd (5 weeks)
***There will be no session 10/13***
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Time: 5:30pm - 6:30pm
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Location: Virginia Credit Union
(7500 Boulder View Drive Richmond, VA 23225)
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Ages: High School - 40
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Cost: $25
Details
Applications for Fall 2025 are CLOSED
Restaurant Ready is a new Jacob's Chance culinary arts program, developed by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) and designed to help individuals develop the essential life and workplace skills needed to launch successful careers in the hospitality industry.
This initiative blends practical training from our Culinary Arts: Advanced Recipes & Practical Skills program with six industry-defined core competencies. Restaurant Ready empowers participants to grow professionally and work toward long-term independence.
This pilot program is application based and registration is open to those who have been selected for the program.
More info can be found HERE!
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Dates: Thursdays, September 11th - November 13th (10 weeks)
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Time: 3:00pm-4:30pm​
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Location: ECPI University: Culinary Institute of Virginia
(11104 W Broad St, Glen Allen, VA 23060)
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Ages: High School Graduates - 40
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Cost: $230
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Let's Get...
Restaurant Ready
