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Foundation Receives Large Donation

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By LOIS KINDLE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 2, 2008

SUN CITY CENTER - Merrill Pratt Thomas was a Christmas angel Dec. 21 when she handed a $200,000 check to Sister Rosalie Hennessey, Bob Mohr and Frank Koebrich of the Community Foundation of Greater Sun City Center.

"Mrs. Thomas is a gracious and generous lady," said Evelyn Lunsford, chairwoman of the foundation. "Her grants through the community foundation over the years have provided support to numerous nonprofit groups and improved the lives of many individuals. South Hillsborough County has been blessed to have her as a benefactor."

"She has such a feel for philanthropy and helping others," Hennessey said. "She didn't come here and just sit around doing nothing. She has a most generous heart."

Given in the memory of her deceased husband, Millard "Tommy" Thomas, the money will go into a trust recently established in her name to benefit several area social service organizations, including the Redlands Christian Migrant Association and Youth Environmental Services. The trust also supports the Florida Orchestra and Sun City Center clubs and organizations such as the Sawdust Engineers and Woodcarvers, and provides funding for high school graduates and other adults going on to technical school.

Thomas also gave a $1,000 check Dec. 21 to be earmarked for the new Boys & Girls Club to be built in Riverview.

Thomas was also an original donor for the foundation's new Woman's Fund, which was established to meet the needs of women and to create opportunities for women to become leaders in philanthropy. Its first grant, in the amount of $15,000, was made in November to the Ophelia Project of Tampa Bay, which promotes the establishment of an emotionally, physically and socially safe culture for girls.

"I think the foundation does a lot of good work," Thomas said.

In the early 1990s, she was one of three Sun City Center residents who donated $50,000 in seed money to start the Sun City Center foundation, which is part of the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay. The other two people to give money were Hazel Bryson and Harold Corrigan, now deceased.

Born in Columbus, Miss., Thomas grew up in a pre-Civil War home listed with the National Register of Historic Places, Hennessey said. At age 20, as the Great Depression began, Thomas graduated from Randolph-Macon Women's College in Virginia.

When she applied for a teaching position in Columbus, Thomas was told her father could support her, and the job was given to someone needing it more. Hennessey said Thomas then sailed to Shanghai to visit an uncle. During the trip, she visited Singapore, where she met her future husband, an oil company employee stationed in Indonesia.

The couple married in 1933 and lived abroad for several years, before moving to New York City. They moved to Sun City Center in 1970.

"Merrill enjoys a party, good scotch and some spicy curry," Hennessey said. She also likes salt, cheese and chocolate, which Thomas said she will never give up.

"I love my dear friends, crossword puzzles, music and a good book," she wrote on her 98th birthday. "I am also reminded each day how much God has blessed me with a good life."

Thomas will be 100 on Jan. 9.

LEARN MORE

WHAT: The Community Foundation of Greater Sun City Center is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that administers more than 50 endowments or trusts.

WHERE: 1525 Rickenbacker Drive, Sun City Center
ESTABLISHED: 1992

FUNDING SOURCES: Individuals and nonprofit agencies

ASSETS: $30.2 million

EXPENSES: Less than 1 percent

BOARD MEMBERS: Evelyn Lunsford, chairwoman; Robert H. Mohr, chairman emeritus; Jo-an Audsley; Charlotte Clark; Raymond L. U; Sally Erath, Jim Johnson; Frank Koebrich; Judy Kramer; Luther R. Lloyd; Archibald S. McKee Sr.; Arlene Oakley; and Roxann Seeley.

INFORMATION: (813) 633-6677

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553 or lkindle@tampatrib.com.

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