After seeing first-hand the devasting effects of unexpected job loss in the Tampa Bay community, Jacobs became inspired to help those impacted by unemployment. Jacobs joined TBJL, a nonprofit organization that works to provide services to those affected by job loss. Through her involvement in TBJL, Jacobs convened a task force of professionals who created a research model that serves Tampa Bay during unemployment crises. She became the President of the Board of Directors for TBJL and volunteered 30 hours a week drafting job descriptions, conducting interviews and hiring new staff for. Over 750 people in the Tampa community received services from TBJL and 85% of those individuals have secured jobs.
In addition to contributing over 12,000 volunteer hours to TBJL, Jacobs is also a Guardian Ad Litem. Jacobs spends over 20 hours a month advocating for neglected children in the foster care system. She works to give foster children a sense of stability, meeting regularly with case management teams to ensure that the children receive all the services they need.
Jacobs becomes the 385th Lightning Community Hero since Jeff and Penny Vinik introduced the Lightning Community Hero program in 2011-12 with a $10 million, five-season commitment to the Tampa Bay community. Through this evening's game, in total, the Lightning Foundation has granted $19.25 million to more than 750 different nonprofits in the Greater Tampa Bay area. During the summer of 2016, the Vinik's announced that the community hero program will give away another $10-million over the next five seasons.
