By Rebecca Barnes, Publisher, Prince William Living
Quilter, mentor, veteran, and tireless volunteer, Kathy Schumer has stitched together the struggles of service, creativity, and compassion across Greater Prince William. Her nomination for the 2026 Prince William Living Influential Women Awards recognizes both her leadership in local quilting guilds and her commitment to veterans, students, and neighbors in need.
Kathy has served twice as President of Cabin Branch Quilters (CBQ), first from 2017–2018 and again from 2024–2025. During her first tenure, she helped lead the guild into the digital age and recommended Semper K9 as the guild’s annual raffle quilt beneficiary. That recommendation was approved, and the proceeds from that year’s quilt—over $2,000—went to support Semper K9’s mission of providing service dogs to veterans.
She also partnered with Lake Ridge Baptist Church to open the guild’s “Sit and Sew” days to people who wanted to learn how to sew, expanding access beyond long-time quilters and inviting new community members into the craft.
In her current term as President, Kathy’s focus has been on transparency, communication, and stronger teamwork. She has worked closely with committee chairs to update Cabin Branch Quilters’ bylaws and standard operating procedures, making sure duty descriptions are current while flexible enough to serve the guild into the future. Her nomination notes that she “worked with the various committees in the Guild to make them more cohesive” and continues to step in “when a need arises.”
For more than a decade, Kathy has also volunteered with the weekly Quilt Club at Benton Middle School, which has been supported by Cabin Branch Quilters for more than 15 years. There can be anywhere from one to four volunteers present at each club meeting; Kathy often serves as the lead volunteer and mentor to the school sponsor. She provides supplies when needed, helps coordinate the purchase of higher-ticket items, and oversees maintenance of donated sewing machines.
In a time when sewing is no longer a standard part of the school curriculum, Quilt Club gives students a practical life skill and a creative outlet. Participants learn artistic color theory while choosing fabrics, as well as hand sewing, ironing, and the mechanics of a sewing machine. Under Kathy’s guidance, students gain not only technical skills but also confidence in their ability to design, create, and finish something of their own.
Kathy has also helped deepen the connection between Cabin Branch Quilters and Benton Middle School in a very tangible way. When the guild needed a new venue for its annual quilt show, she worked with the Prince William County School Board and guild leadership to arrange for the show to be held at Benton. The quilt show has now been successfully hosted there in both 2024 and 2025, strengthening the relationship between the guild and the school community.
While active in CBQ, Kathy is also a member of Stonehouse Quilters. She makes herself available for anyone interested in learning from the owner of a longarm quilting machine. She quilts charity quilts for both Cabin Branch and Stonehouse. She has personally made quilts and pillowcases for other local charitable organizations as needs arise.
Her service extends to the veteran community as well. Kathy is a disabled veteran who, after years of back issues, rescued a Boxer puppy named Rocky in early 2022 with the intention of training him as her assistance dog. After working with private trainers and earning Rocky’s Canine Good Citizen and Advanced CGC titles, she connected with Semper K9 and was accepted into its service dog program in October 2023. She and Rocky graduated in May 2024.
Kathy’s commitment to Semper K9 did not end with her initial involvement. Looking for additional ways to strengthen her support, she leveraged her leadership role within Stonehouse Quilters, where the group hosts an annual Raffle Quilt fundraiser. Kathy nominated Semper K9 as the organization’s 2024 charity partner, a recommendation that was accepted by the group. Through the raffle that year, Stonehouse Quilters raised more than $2,000 in direct support of Semper K9’s programs, expanding the organization’s ability to serve veterans and first responders. This effort reflects Kathy’s ability to connect community networks with meaningful causes and translate goodwill into tangible impact.
Kathy’s influence is perhaps most visible in how she elevates others. Her nomination explains that she “helps young girls learn how to sew but also helps them build confidence,” and that she encourages younger guild members to step into leadership roles, often doing so with a wry sense of humor, completing projects in an approachable way. Despite a very full schedule, “she always finds time to train and work with the dogs.”
Her impact is also profoundly personal. The nominator shares that when they spent two months in the hospital and nursing home, “she came to visit me, and when she couldn’t come to visit, she called. When you are well, everyone is your friend, but when you are not, not everybody is your friend.” Kathy showed up consistently, until recovery, demonstrating the kind of quiet loyalty that defines real friendship.
As a Prince William Living Influential Women Awards nominee, Kathy Schumer is being recognized for the many ways she serves this community: teaching students, supporting fellow quilters, standing with veterans, and showing up for friends in their most challenging moments.
Join Us in Celebrating Our Nominees
Help us celebrate Kathy and all of the 2026 Prince William Living Influential Women Awards nominees. Reserve your tickets for the Influential Women Awards Celebration at Sweeney Barn on March 5, 2026, and join us in honoring women who are making Greater Prince William a more creative, caring, and connected place. Visit princewilliamliving.com/influential-women for more details and ticket information.
https://princewilliamliving.com/influential-women/
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Rebecca Barnes is the Publisher of Prince William Living and the founder of the Influential Women Awards, created to honor women whose leadership, service, and professional accomplishments strengthen the Greater Prince William community. As a business owner, nonprofit leader, and long-standing advocate for local engagement, Rebecca has dedicated more than two decades to spotlighting the people and organizations that make Prince William, Manassas, and Manassas Park thrive. Through her work in media, destination branding, and community partnerships, she continues to amplify stories of impact and ensure that those who give back receive recognition equal to their contribution