About Us
Mission, Promise, Values | Our Namesake | Meet The Team | Join the Board
Our Mission
Jacob's Chance enriches lives by empowering individuals 5-40 years old who have developmental and or, intellectual disabilities with or without physical disabilities through inclusive programs that promote personal development and positive relationships.
Our Promise
We are committed to diversity and inclusiveness in all aspects of our organization. We promise to create equity as we embrace cultural differences and promote cultural understanding.
Our Values
Inclusion
We are dedicated to educating our community about true inclusion by offering programming where youth, teens, and young adults with and without disabilities play, learn, and grow together.
Adaptability
We adapt the sport, program, or class to the ability of the participant to allow us to service individuals at any skill level.
Acceptance
Diversity
We promote diversity by seeking out underserved communities, developing trust and allowing everyone to participate regardless of their ability to pay our minimal registration fees.
Through celebrating our participants' achievements and uniqueness, we promote self confidence and acceptance.
Healthy Lifestyles
Collaboration
We believe that our constituents are best served when nonprofit organizations and businesses work together.
We help to battle common challenges for those with disabilities such as obesity, atrophy, isolation, and depression with education, fitness, movement, outdoor activities, skills for independence, and athletics.
Learn More
Who is Jacob?
Jacob was a bright and fun-loving
young man who lived life to the
fullest and loved playing sports.
Jacob passed away in 2002 due to
complications of his disabilities when he was only 11 years old, but Kate got to know Jacob's mom as Kate's sons played sports with Jacob's brother. All of the programs offered today are dedicated to Jacob and his infectious smile, which we see reflected in every individual we've served since becoming a nonprofit in 2013, and the years of Buddy Ball before that. These programs are Jacob's "chance" to live through the wonderful youth, teens, and adults we serve today.
Meet the Team
Staff
Kate Mardigian
Founder | Executive Director
Born in Charleston, WV and raised in Richmond, VA. Mom of two grown sons and Gigi to two amazing granddaughters. Enjoys hiking, live music, and ice cream cones.
Eddie Herndon
Development Director
Eddie is from Maryland and has lived in Richmond since 2017 with his wife, three cats and their dog, Cal. Attended Duquesne University in Pittsburgh for undergrad and lived in Rome, Italy for a semester. In 2013 he received a master's degree from Georgetown University. Enjoys traveling abroad, spending time outdoors, listening to classic rock, and using his pizza oven.
Brooke Cable Hsieh
Program Director
Born and raised in Richmond, VA. University of Georgia grad and a board certified music therapist. Mom to a new baby girl and dog mom to one pittie pup. Enjoys rock climbing, trying new things, and all-you-can-eat buffets.
Cat Papadopoulou
Program Manager
Cat was born in Athens, Greece and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. She is a VCU School of Social Work alum. In her spare time you can find her reading, antiquing, and hanging out with her tuxedo cat named Percy. Cat hopes to travel and obtain her masters in counseling!
Programs
Matthew Scott
Instructor
Inclusive Fitness & Health
VCU Dept. of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, ACSM EP-C
Sadie Hodges
Athletic Director
River City Buddy Ball
Susan Lambrechts
Program Support Assistant
Board of Directors
Emily Hartman
Chairman of the Board
Matt Dutcher
Vice Chair
Collin Chance
Secretary/Treasurer
Marcus Carpenter
Board Member
Mo Feliciano
Board Member
Kristi Rike
Board Member
Mareen Thomas
Board Member
Interested in Joining our Board?
If you would like more information on joining the board contact Kate Mardigian at Kmardigian@jacobschance.org