A father who quietly helps others in gratitude for the help he received during the illness and subsequent death of his young son will receive the Angel on Earth Award on Sept. 26.
Frank Thomas, a Vietnam-era veteran, embarked on his mission after his first-born son died of cancer at the age of 3 in 1975. During the fight to save Ruben Adam Thomas, Frank says he experienced overwhelming assistance from many people and organizations, especially the American Cancer Society.
“To experience so much help when you feel so helpless is just a wonderful thing,” he says.
For nearly 40 years, he has paid it forward (and backward) by organizing more than 100 fundraising events, mostly golf tournaments, all completely staffed by volunteers. Beneficiaries have included the Crisis Nursery children’s shelter in Phoenix, Wounded Warriors, March of Dimes and United Cerebral Palsy. Last year, his golf tournament for the 19 hotshot firefighters who died in the summer fires in northern Arizona raised more than $50,000.
The owner of Thomas Auto Glass, 10211 N. 32nd St., Phoenix, is being honored by Angels in the Neighborhood (www.angelwingsentertainment.com), a national movement to recognize the Human Angels among us. These are men, women, and children who devote their lives to helping others and, like Frank, typically work quietly behind the scenes. They are living examples of what the best of human kindness and decency looks like.
While Frank doesn’t “keep score” of the money he’s raised, it’s estimated in the millions of dollars — his events have garnered $580,000 for the Crisis Nursery alone.
“The important thing is to DO, not just feel,” he says, and that’s what he does every day, including giving his own blood every 45 days. But through his business he allows others to help those in need, too. The theme of his business is, “Be Safe, Feel Good;” when customers have work done at Thomas Auto Glass, the business donates $50 to the charity of their choice.
On Sept. 26, Frank will be honored during another of his golf tournaments at the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club in Phoenix. The event benefits the Two Hearts Horsemanship Program at Sunshine Acres Children’s Home of Mesa, and is presented in conjunction with the Purtzer Golf Academy.
Angels In The Neighborhood seeks out Human Angels across the nation and brings them to the attention of their communities by presenting them with the Angel On Earth Award. The No Horse’n Around Golf Tournament was chosen for the presentation because Sunshine Acres Children’s Home, 3405 N. Higley Road, and the Two Hearts Horsemanship Program make Angels out of horses every day for “at risk” children.
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