Our Team
Board Members
Co-Founder
Bridget Ready is the mother of Jack and co-founder, with her husband Paul Ready, of Jack’s Helping Hand, Inc. Bridget has always been a strong advocate for children with disabilities and their families and was the recipient of the California State Child Advocate of the Year Award given by the Epsilon Delta Society of Educators.
Co-Founder
Paul Ready, the father of Baby Jack, is a native of San Luis Obispo, California, born in 1956. Mr. Ready is a principal of the law firm of Farmer & Ready. He is currently a member of the American Bar Association and San Luis Obispo County Bar Association.
Chairman and Executive Director
Leslie Orradre is a retired Speech Language Pathologist who operated a private practice in San Luis Obispo for 28 years. She has been a part of Jack’s Helping Hand since its inception and is currently serving as the Executive Director. She has compassion for children with disabilities and their families as well as skills to navigate healthcare.
President
Adam Verdin is the co-owner of Old Juan’s Cantina in Oceano, and principal of Verdin, a marketing and public relations agency based in San Luis Obispo.
Treasurer
Fran Tognazzini has lived in North County for over 30 years and has spent at least half of those being an active volunteer with several organizations in the area.
Director
Dr. Hulburd works as an ophthalmologist at Pacific Eye, French Hospital Medical Center and Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center. He received his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Dr. Hulburd hopes to bring a unique medical background and fresh ideas to the board.
Director
Beverly Maguire, originally from Palos Verdes Estates, works with the San Luis Medical Clinic and has a passion for music. Her career took a different direction after obtaining her echocardiography certification, during which she was employed for 8 years at Centinela Hospital in Inglewood, California.
Director
Mike is a retired high school teacher and coach from Arroyo Grande High School and a friend of the Ready’s. When approached to help with the planning and building of the park in 2017, he graciously said yes and has donated countless hours of planning, meetings, manual labor, and determination to make this park a success.
Associate Board Members
Associate Board Member
Dylan Morrow is a mortgage lender at Rate with over 10 years of experience in the residential lending industry. He is dedicated to helping individuals and families navigate the home financing process with clarity and confidence, delivering a smooth, personalized experience for every client. Jack’s Helping Hand is especially meaningful to him because of the organization’s direct impact on local families and its commitment to supporting children in need.
Associate Board Member
In 2006, Owen was the organization’s very first recipient; the community’s inaugural barbecue in Santa Margarita was held specifically to fund a state-of-the-art prosthetic leg following his battle with cancer. Since then, Owen has remained a fixture of the JHH family, returning almost every year to emcee the event that launched his journey.
Professionally, Owen is an Account Manager at NVIDIA, where he supports Higher Education institutions across the West Coast with advanced AI solutions. A graduate of Cal Poly, he has spent his career at the forefront of technology sales.
Associate Board Member
Michaela Cotton is a principal at the law firm of Andre, Morris & Buttery, where she represents local companies and individuals in a wide range of litigation matters, as well as employment counseling and workplace investigations. Raised in the San Luis Obispo area, Michaela earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and her Juris Doctor from Cornell Law School. Michaela has been a volunteer and supporter of JHH since 2021, including service on the Imagination Park Fall Classic Committee.
Associate Board Member
Armen Agajanian is a senior finance and corporate development leader with nearly two decades of experience supporting business growth, strategy, and complex transactions. He currently serves as Senior Director of Corporate Development & FP&A at SitusAMC, where he partners with executive teams on financial planning, M&A, and long-term decision-making. Jack’s Helping Hand is meaningful to Armen because of its direct, compassionate support for children and families during some of life’s most challenging moments.
Event and Volunteer Coordinator
Riley is a Paso Robles native and graduated from CU-Boulder studying Sociology and Psychology. Riley is passionate about her community, driven to help others, and committed to planning and facilitating logistics for all events.
Marketing Coordinator and Administrative Assistant
Noelle is a San Luis Obispo native and a graduate of Cal Poly, where she studied Sociology and Child Development. She later earned her master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Cal Poly, where her final research project focused on nonprofit organizations in San Luis Obispo County. Having grown up in the community, Noelle is passionate about supporting local families and giving back through her work in the nonprofit sector. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, staying active through sports, and coaching volleyball at Mission College Prep.
Associate Board Member
Grace is a San Luis Obispo native and the sister of Baby Jack. She graduated from Cal Poly with a B.A. in Political Science and went on to attend Santa Clara University School of Law. She is an associate attorney at the law firm of Farmer & Ready. Grace has been involved with Jack’s Helping Hand since its inception and is inspired by the generosity of the community, the opportunity to connect with Jack’s Helping Hand families, and the mission that honors her brother’s legacy.
Associate Board Member/ Imagination Park Fall Classic Director
Derek is the owner of an independent wealth management firm, Johnson Wealth Management, located here on the Central Coast. Founded more than 35 years ago, Johnson Wealth Management is committed to trustworthy guidance and genuine care. Built as a family practice, the firm has grown into a multigenerational organization rooted in integrity, long-term stewardship, and personal relationships. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Derek brings deep expertise across investment management, retirement planning, and complex wealth strategies.He is committed to helping clients navigate financial decisions with clarity and confidence, aligning their resources with their long-term goals. As a local to the Central Coast, Derek has been familiar with Jack’s story since its inception. He was reconnected and began volunteering with the organization in 2018 when he moved back into the area and immediately saw the impact that it was having in the community. He’s proud to be apart of such an impactful organization for families in need.
Office Staff
Chairman and Executive Director
Leslie Orradre is a retired Speech Language Pathologist who operated a private practice in San Luis Obispo for 28 years. She has been a part of Jack’s Helping Hand since its inception and is currently serving as the Executive Director. She has compassion for children with disabilities and their families as well as skills to navigate healthcare.
Marketing Coordinator and Administrative Assistant
Noelle is a San Luis Obispo native and a graduate of Cal Poly, where she studied Sociology and Child Development. She later earned her master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Cal Poly, where her final research project focused on nonprofit organizations in San Luis Obispo County. Having grown up in the community, Noelle is passionate about supporting local families and giving back through her work in the nonprofit sector. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, staying active through sports, and coaching volleyball at Mission College Prep.
Event and Volunteer Coordinator
Riley is a Paso Robles native and graduated from CU-Boulder studying Sociology and Psychology. Riley is passionate about her community, driven to help others, and committed to planning and facilitating logistics for all events.
Assistance and Programs Coordinator
Gabby is a Paso Robles Native and she earned her BA in Sociology with a minor in Ethnic Studies from CalPoly. She is passionate about helping her community. Gabby’s own experience with a child diagnosed with an unexpected illness allows her to understand the needs of children, families, and parents just like her. Gabby is able to provide information and reach out to families in their own language. She knows firsthand that it can be a barrier for many people to receive the services they need.
Event and Volunteer Imagination Park Coordinator
Bonnie has lived on the Central Coast since graduating from Cal Poly with a degree in Animal Science. Over the years, she has enjoyed being involved with many local organizations and volunteering for nonprofits. She is PATH-certified as a therapeutic riding instructor and oversees the Little Riders program. Her expertise is evident in her management of the Imagination Park Equestrian Center and her contributions to our programs.
Equestrian Caretaker
Brianna was raised in Nipomo and earned her degree in Agricultural Communications from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She began her journey with Jack’s Helping Hand as a volunteer for the Little Riders program during high school and college. She is a PATH-certified as a therapeutic riding instructor for Little Riders. She is grateful to be part of such a positive and compassionate organization dedicated to supporting children and families in our community.
Financial Associate
Leah grew up in North Central Washington and graduated from Western Washington University in Bellingham. She moved here with her husband and 3 children in 2014 and joined JHH in 2018. She has been volunteering with various non-profits and public schools since college. She now lives in North County with her family and their many animals. She loves to hike, garden and bake, but can often be found driving her kids around town to sports practices and dance rehearsals.
Our mission is to provide community programs that meet the unique challenges of children with cancer or special needs under the age of 21.