PHOENIX — Frank Thomas, owner of Thomas Auto Glass, will receive the Angel on Earth Award, according to a press release.
The award is given by Angels in the Neighborhood, a national movement to recognize “angels among us,” said the release. Awardees are men and women who devote their lives to helping others.
Thomas’ 3-year-old son died in 1975 of cancer, and Thomas began helping people out of gratitude for all the assistance he received during that time, stated the release.
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“To experience so much help when you feel so helpless is just a wonderful thing,” Thomas said in the release.
Over 40 years Thomas has organized more than 100 fundraising events 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, reported the release.
He doesn’t keep a serious record, but Thomas estimates his events have raised millions. The Crisis Nursery event raised $580,000 alone, noted the release.
Thomas will receive the award at the No Horse’n Around Gold Tournament on Sept. 26.
