Some people arrive at their calling on a straight path. Amanda Summers took the scenic route — one that wound through a decade of running her own photography business, twelve years in nonprofit financial leadership, and a Category 5 hurricane that changed everything.
In October 2018, Hurricane Michael devastated Panama City, Florida, and Amanda’s family lost their home. With little more than resolve and experience to guide her, they relocated to Birmingham and began again.
“I found Hand in Paw right away upon arriving in Birmingham,” she recalls. “And I knew I wanted to work here.”
As it happened, Hand in Paw was searching for a Financial Director — a role Amanda had spent more than a decade mastering in the nonprofit sector. After several interviews and what she describes as “a little bit of waiting,” she received the email offering her the job. Six and a half years later, she serves as Assistant Director — and as one of the organization’s most steady, institutional anchors.
Amanda earned her associate degree in Business Administration with a focus in accounting from Northeastern Technical College in South Carolina, where she was a member of both the Alpha Beta Delta Business Honor Society and the National Honor Society. Credentials aside, what she brings to Hand in Paw cannot be conferred by diploma.
“I have been with Hand in Paw for seven years,” she says. “That knowledge alone is valuable — knowing how things have been done over the years and how things are changing now.”
Her role spans financial oversight, donor stewardship, and event leadership. Hand in Paw’s events, she notes, are multifaceted — cultivating new donors, recruiting volunteers, and introducing prospective Therapy Teams to the organization.
“Our organization couldn’t survive without the help of our events,” she says plainly.
Behind the scenes, she helps nurture donor relationships while keeping a close eye on contributions and financial trends. It is work that demands both precision and perspective — someone who can balance spreadsheets and big-picture strategy with equal ease.
And then there’s the team.
"I love being part of the HIP team because we do great things,” she says. “We are a small but mighty team, and we make things happen!"
Ask Amanda why she believes in Hand in Paw’s mission, and she does not cite theory. She talks about moments.
She recalls a nonverbal older adult in a wheelchair who began gently petting a therapy dog after only a few minutes of interaction. She remembers a school-aged child, also wheelchair-bound, who lit up at the sight of a dog — then rested her head on the animal’s back once it was placed in her lap.
"That is when you know the mission is working," Amanda says. "And that is exciting."
Those stories, often shared by Therapy Teams returning from visits, fuel her work long after the event tables are cleared and the budgets are balanced.
During a staff meeting icebreaker, coworkers were asked to describe one another in a single word. Amanda’s word came back unanimously: FUN.
She embraces it.
“I never let work get too serious,” she says, echoing wisdom from her late husband: “It’s just work.”
Not that the work isn’t important. It is. But Amanda believes joy belongs in the process.
“Work is important and serious, but at the end of the day, you love the people you work with — and that makes work FUN.”
At home, life is just as full. Between her husband and herself, Amanda shares a blended family of six children, along with four dogs and a cat. “Needless to say,” she laughs, “our house is very busy.”
When she needs to recharge, she turns to art — painting with acrylics, experimenting with oil pastels, or creating digital designs. Visitors to her office quickly notice the wall of original artwork she has created herself.
“I’m proud of each one of them,” she says.
Amanda’s love for animals extends well beyond the office.
One surprising chapter in Amanda’s story: she was a competitive majorette in high school, twirling throughout her youth. “There are days that I miss it,” she admits. “But I am definitely too old for it now!”
These days, instead of batons, she spins responsibilities — guiding events, stewarding donors, and helping Hand in Paw evolve while remaining grounded in its mission.
Resilience reshaped her life in 2018. Purpose sustains it now.
In many ways, Amanda embodies the organization she serves: steady in crisis, energized by connection, and committed to bringing lightness into serious work.
And yes — she makes it FUN!
This post is part of our 30th Anniversary #WeAreHIP campaign, a celebration of the people who keep Hand in Paw moving forward every day. From Therapy Teams in the field to the staff working behind the scenes, we’re shining a light on the dedicated individuals whose commitment, creativity, and heart power our mission across Central Alabama and Tuscaloosa. As we celebrate 30 years of connection and impact, we’d love to hear from you, too.
Have you experienced the work of a Hand in Paw Therapy Team? Attended an event? Supported our mission in your own way? Share your story and help us mark this milestone year by adding your voice to the legacy!
