Jacob’s Chance supports children with disabilities playing sports in the Richmond area
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Jacob's Chance is a Richmond-based nonprofit that supports children with disabilities who play sports. 8News got an inside look at the organization, as well as an upcoming event bringing holiday cheer this season. In the morning on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 8News Anchors Delaney Hall and Autumn Childress met with Jacob's Chance founder and executive director Kate Mardigian and program director Brooke Hseih about the organization's work. Mardigian explained that inspiration came for the organization about 18 years ago. "I was leaving a baseball field with my son and came across another field where I saw parents standing," Mardigian said. "As I got closer, I realized they were helping with their kids playing baseball, and their children had disabilities. So, I immediately felt guilt and wanted to jump in and see what I could do to bring volunteers, and that's how the story began." From there, Mardigian said volunteers began helping out with baseball, football, basketball, soccer, tennis and more. Hseih added that children and adults with disabilities can participate in these sports through a variety of different programs. "We have a variety of different programs, adventure programs, day enrichment programs for adults, social clubs and fitness programs," Hseih said. "Coming up in the next couple months, we have open gym basketball, we have day enrichment programs starting in January for adults. We're always looking for more opportunities for more participants to get involved, for more volunteers, and we like to be a one-stop-shop for families." From 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, the organization will host Merry Mall at J.R. Tucker High School, where the organization's participants will be escorted through the Merry Mall with the help of an "elf" buddy as they select a gift for each of their loved ones. For more information about the organization, visit its website.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Jacob's Chance is a Richmond-based nonprofit that supports children with disabilities who play sports. 8News got an inside look at the organization, as well as an upcoming event bringing holiday cheer this season.
In the morning on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 8News Anchors Delaney Hall and Autumn Childress met with Jacob's Chance founder and executive director Kate Mardigian and program director Brooke Hseih about the organization's work.
Mardigian explained that inspiration came for the organization about 18 years ago.
"I was leaving a baseball field with my son and came across another field where I saw parents standing," Mardigian said. "As I got closer, I realized they were helping with their kids playing baseball, and their children had disabilities. So, I immediately felt guilt and wanted to jump in and see what I could do to bring volunteers, and that's how the story began."
From there, Mardigian said volunteers began helping out with baseball, football, basketball, soccer, tennis and more.
Hseih added that children and adults with disabilities can participate in these sports through a variety of different programs.
"We have a variety of different programs, adventure programs, day enrichment programs for adults, social clubs and fitness programs," Hseih said. "Coming up in the next couple months, we have open gym basketball, we have day enrichment programs starting in January for adults. We're always looking for more opportunities for more participants to get involved, for more volunteers, and we like to be a one-stop-shop for families."
From 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, the organization will host Merry Mall at J.R. Tucker High School, where the organization's participants will be escorted through the Merry Mall with the help of an "elf" buddy as they select a gift for each of their loved ones.
For more information about the organization, visit its website.
