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 with intellectual, developmental, physical, and/or complex 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
Through utilizing resources like our collaboration with local community partners, we adapt the sport, program, or class to the ability of the participant to allow us to service individuals at any skill level.
Healthy Lifestyles
We are dedicated to fostering physical and emotional well-being of individuals with disabilities by promoting active living, holistic wellness, and positive self-esteem.
Accessibility
We actively work to remove physical, financial, and social barriers to ensure that all individuals have equal access to opportunities, resources, and experiences.
Diversity
We embrace and celebrate the unique backgrounds, abilities, and perspectives of every individual.
Our Policies
We strive to serve and protect our participants and volunteers in all that we do.
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.

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!

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.

Sydney Griffin
Program Manager
Born over in Midlothian but a proud Richmond resident, Sydney graduated with a Bachelor’s in Psychology from VCU. In her free time she enjoys spending time with friends and family or cuddling with her many animals. Sydney hopes to return to college to get her Ph.D. to pursue research in psychology.

Matthew Scott
Volunteer 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

Collin Chance
Secretary/Treasurer

Mareen Thomas
Board Member

Matt Dutcher
Vice Chair

Marcus Carpenter
Board Member

Matthew Markee
Board Member

Kristi Rike
Board Member

Mo Feliciano
Board Member
Interested in Joining our Board?
If you would like more information on joining the board contact Kate Mardigian at Kmardigian@jacobschance.org