During the early years of her career as a social worker, Kay worked for the State of Tennessee advocating for the safety of children and seniors. For six years prior to joining the Sontag Foundation, Kay served as the first Executive Director for the Foundation established by the first draft pick in the history of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, Tony Boselli. Upon joining The Sontag Foundation, Kay played an instrumental role in the formation of the Foundation's grant programs, including developing and operationalizing the Foundation's Distinguished Scientist Award program, the formation of the Brain Tumor Funders Collaborative, and the establishment of the Foundation's Northeast Florida grant portfolio. Kay received many awards during her time at The Sontag Foundation, including the Society for Neuro-Oncology's Jan Esenwein Public Service Award.