On Wednesday, July 27th, guests gathered at the Jim and Jan Moran Family Center to honor the generosity and impact that The Thomas Family Foundation has made on Women In Distress. The attendees included board and trustee members, community advocates, and Phyllis and Al Thomas’ friends and family including their that sons flew in to support their parents. The education and empowerment center has been named after The Thomas Family Foundation after years of dedicating their time, energy, and resources into bettering the lives of domestic violence survivors.
Phyllis and Al Thomas, individually and through The Thomas Family Foundation, have been providing significant philanthropic support to Broward County charities for more than a decade when they relocated from Chicago and made South Florida their new home. Since 2009 they have supported Women In Distress of Broward County (WID) and have taken active roles. Phyllis has served on the Board of Directors for more than 10 years, including two terms as Board Chair. During that time, the Thomas’ became major donors contributing a large amount of funding. Additionally, they started the Women In Distress Charity Golf Tournament which has raised life savings funds and continues to grow to it’s ninth year. To further encourage giving and attract new donors to WID’s mission, they established The Thomas Family Foundation Vision for the Future Challenge Grant which became especially important when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The Starfish Luncheon, the single largest fundraising event of the agency, was cancelled and other fundraising efforts seriously affected because of the public health crisis resulting economic fallout. Because of the support of Phyllis and Al Thomas, WID has been able not only to continue but expand services to domestic violence survivors and their children, strengthen the agency and encourage others to give. Phyllis and Al Thomas personify leadership giving.
One of the most gratifying parts of my role as CEO of Women In Distress is joining others who are passionate about our mission to end domestic violence, when I first came to Women In Distress everywhere I turned as a new CEO, I saw further evidence that Phyllis Thomas and the Thomas Family Foundation were true assets to this organization!.,” said President and CEO of Women In Distress of Broward County, Inc., Linda Parker, “I saw the donor records and witnessed the personal investment she and the Thomas Family Foundation has made. I watched Phyllis devote time and effort to leading the organization as a member of the Board of Directors. I received calls from individuals who wanted to become involved in supporting the mission of WID because they had met Phyllis and she connected them to us.”
For more information please contact:
Maddison Clyne
Associate Director of Development, Events & Annual Fund
954-760-9800 x1436
mclyne@womenindistress.org
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