Ranch & Coast Magazine

COURTESY PHOTOGRAPHY A Life of Service Honoring a commitment to volunteerism and leadership I NEZ J. THOMAS HAS CHOSEN education, mentoring, and philanthropy for young people to be the focus of her life. ere are a few notable exceptions, which involve her absolute happiest moments spent with her husband, Dr. Ted omas, children, Sydney, Nicole, and Jamal, as well as grandchild, Nolan. But, there is no doubt omas finds joy in all of her volunteer efforts, which have extended over many years. When she was a newcomer to San Diego from the East Coast, she joined the San Diego County Medical Society Alliance, where she became president. She firmly caught the volunteer bug and there was no stopping her. omas chaired the Spirit of Living Breast Cancer Fashion Show and, after serving as president of Jack and Jill, Inc., she supervised and administered grant programs there as well as at Books, Balls, Bytes for Christian Fellowship Church. She became very active with Links, Inc., first as president and then as chair of the Achiever Program, which mentors young African American men who have distinguished themselves academically and within their community. omas also worked to raise interest in Links' important STEM program, which emphasizes math and science. And she has volunteered many hours to San Diego Women, Incorporated, where she serves on committees that chair the Honoree Luncheon and assists with sponsorship of scholarship students. What has inspired omas' life's work? Her high standards are especially embodied in one coveted membership, that of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the first historically African American sorority, founded on January 15, 1908 at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Nine women seniors and seven sophomores on campus were the initial core group and original founders. ere are now more than 300,000 international members of AKA. e sorority is bound by bonds of sisterhood and by a very strong commitment to domestic and international leadership. It strives for equality of all people. Some well-known members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority have included Coretta Scott King, Dr. Maya Angelou, Phylicia Rashad, Ella Fitzgerald, Toni Morrison, and Vice President Kamala Harris. Living this life of purpose finds omas currently serving on the Copley Family YMCA Board of Directors and as a board member of the Alzheimer's San Diego Foundation. Next up, she will be honored as a 2022 Woman of Dedication on April 1 at the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina. Eleven other extraordinary women and omas will be lauded at the luncheon, where she will join another sisterhood as one of this very exclusive group. wod2022.givesmart.com DARLENE G. DAVIES Focus philanthropy Inez J. Thomas @ranchandcoast ranchandcoast.com 44 MARCH 2022 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE

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