Kathy Koar, who has led Harcum College's Veterinary Nursing Program in Bryn Mawr for more than 25 years, has been named to the board of directors of Hand2Paw, a Philadelphia nonprofit that pairs animal rescue work with paid jobs for young adults facing housing insecurity or aging out of foster care.

Harcum College announced the appointment on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

"I'm honored to join the Hand2Paw family and support a mission that brings together my passion for young people, animals, and education," Koar said in the announcement.

Koar is a 1999 graduate of Harcum's Veterinary Technology program and has been a Certified Veterinary Technician in Pennsylvania since that year. Before becoming program director, she spent 15 years teaching in the Upper Darby School District, starting as a fourth-grade teacher, and 12 years working in Penn Vet's Emergency Service.

Her honors include the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association's Veterinary Technician of the Year award in 2020, Harcum's Outstanding Alumnus Award and the Lindback Award for Excellence in Teaching. She is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership at St. Joseph's University.

Beyond Harcum, Koar serves as the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America District 2 representative and sits on the PVMA Legislative and Regulatory Committee.

What Hand2Paw does

The nonprofit started small. In 2009, Rachel Cohen, then a 19-year-old University of Pennsylvania student volunteering at a Grays Ferry animal shelter, noticed homeless teens on the University Avenue Bridge clinging to dogs for comfort. The organization began offering paid internships in 2011.

Its flagship program, Unleashing Opportunities, is a six-month internship paying $15 per hour for 20 to 30 hours a week. Participants ages 18 to 24 work directly with rescued animals while building workplace skills. A shorter track called Pawspurr runs six weeks and focuses on career readiness, communication and conflict resolution.

Hand2Paw serves young adults from underrepresented communities, including those experiencing housing insecurity or foster care involvement, according to the organization's website.

More information on Hand2Paw's programs and volunteer opportunities is available at hand2paw.org.