Kathy Jacobs, Co-Founder
Co-owner Jacobs Appraisal Services, Raleigh, NC
Kathy has experience as a youth tennis coach, is a loving aunt to 3 nieces and nephews, and is the daughter of Lucy’s Helping Hands’ namesake Lucille Jacobs. By profession, she is a real estate appraiser and owner of Jacobs Appraisal Service in Raleigh, N.C.. She graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a B.S. in public health and an M.A. in sports administration.
“My nieces and their friends are smart, talented, and energetic. These girls have inspired me to want to help them learn some of life’s most important lessons while they are young and teachable. I want them to understand that having a grateful heart, respecting others, and helping others are building blocks for a fruitful and fulfilling life -- at any age. I have the passion and energy to get Lucy’s Helping Hands organized and started, but the girls themselves take ownership of our projects and learn the benefits of sharing, helping, and encouraging. They learn responsibility to fulfill their projects and they learn teamwork as they work together. I am tremendously excited and encouraged by the eagerness and attentiveness of our group. I know we will continually learn valuable life lessons while learning about ourselves, helping others, and making a difference!”
Allyson Siegel, Co-Founder
Vice President, Tru-Pak Moving Systems, Inc., Charlotte, NC
Allyson has spent many years serving children as a Girl Scout leader, a Junior Achievement volunteer, a camp counselor, and elementary school volunteer. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, she is currently completing her M.A. in multi-cultural counseling.
“Teaching girls the amazing power of giving provides the basis for compassion and acceptance of all people in the world. Lucy’s Helping Hands provides an excellent opportunity for girls to experience this in a fun and meaningful way. Through a variety of community service projects, the girls use their energy, their zest for life, their “girl power,” to give back to their communities – and to the world. In the process, they discover just how much power they possess in their own small hands.”
Katie grew up with a dad in the military so she moved around quite a lot, but she went to high school here in NC. She started playing tennis in the 9th grade and from that point forward there aren't many days that she hasn't been on the tennis court. Tennis has allowed her to meet and work with lots of different people. It allowed her a chance to play college tennis at NC State, 1988-1991. After college she followed her childhood tennis teacher to North Ridge Country Club where she began her own teaching career. This past May was her 17th year at the club. She teaches all ages from 6 year olds to 60 year olds.
Her favorite part of being at NRCC so long is watching kids that she taught at a young age develop into not only good tennis players but good people. Some of them are getting married and starting to have their own families, which makes her feel a little old!
Advisory Board
Stephanie Rauch, Advisory Board Member
Psychotherapist, PhD, LPC, LMBT and owner of Rauch Mind and Body, Charlotte, NC
“For thousands of years, society has put women and feminine energy in a subservient role. As a result, women continually struggle with issues of self-esteem, self-respect and confidence. One way to break the old roles and stereotypes is to help empower young girls as individuals: to help them discover how their own strength and love can make a positive difference in other people’s lives. By helping others through Lucy’s Helping Hands, these girls actually experience change in themselves…and the world becomes a better place.”
Debbie Vaughan, Advisory Board Member
Co-owner, Jacobs Appraisal Services; Raleigh, NC
“For girls to grow into strong leaders, they need to develop self-confidence, assertiveness and resourcefulness. Lucy’s Helping Hands does this by striking a new chord in young girls’ hearts, inspiring them to be better people, and helping them realize their own potential through giving.”
Nora Lynn Finch, Advisory Board Member
Senior Associate Director, Department of Athletics, NC State University; Co-founder/co-owner, Kay Yow Girls’ Basketball Camp, Inc. (summer camp for girls 7 to 18, based at NC State University)
“Girls and young women with positive self-esteem have fewer unwanted pregnancies, suffer less domestic abuse, and make higher grades. Virtually all girls experience some self-esteem stress during their pre-teen and teenage years. Providing girls opportunities to improve their self-esteem through empowerment, helpful service, and healthy habits and lifestyle is the mission of Lucy’s Helping Hands. Through helping others, girls learn the importance and great reward of making a difference in the lives of our neighbors and community – and in the process, they reap the bounty of feeling needed, helpful, and important. Generosity grows in Lucy’s Helping Hands!”
Stacey Jacobs, Advisory Board Member
Mother of Lucy’s Helping Hand team-member; Raleigh, NC
“Our hope is that through Lucy’s Helping Hands, our daughter will see life through a different scope – the scope of the less fortunate. She has been so excited about this organization. She’s been coming home and drawing pictures of hands. She truly understands that this group is about helping others. For her, it also means that God and good works go hand-in-hand.”
April Koontz, Advisory Board Member
Customer Quality Manager in the Healthcare Software Industry; Raleigh, NC
“In my mind, there’s no greater investment than an investment in the life of a child. I’m thrilled and honored to be part of Lucy’s Helping Hands, an organization focused on the simple values that mold girls into brave, compassionate and independent young women.”
Joel Vaughan, Advisory Board Member
Production Manager for Community Workforce Solutions; Raleigh, NC
“As a father, I want nothing more than to see my daughter grow into this big, uncertain world armed with self-confidence, courage and determination. Lucy’s Helping Hands gives girls an excellent way to form authentic friendships, to perform important community work and to discover just how strong and capable they really are.”
Other Adult Volunteers
Barbara Doolittle
Jackie Allison
Katie Carpenter
Trish Denning
