Latina Dominican-American Fund Raiser Facilitates Scholarships
Meet Ana Rosario Thomas, Hispanic Woman of Distinction, Corporate Partnerships Director, Palm Beach State College Foundation
“As Hispanic women, let’s embrace our diverse cultures, and take care of one another to create a better world for our children.”
Ana Rosario Thomas was born in the Dominican Republic, raised in New York and Rhode Island, and has lived in South Florida for over 20 years. She began her college career at Palm Beach State College where she developed a lifelong passion for education.
After graduating from the University of South Florida with a degree in communications, Ana touted the products of fortune 500 companies including Tropicana, the Home Shopping Network, Univision, and CBS Broadcasting.
During her previous positions, she helped plan and execute a variety of marketing, public relations and community campaigns using her media relations, social media, and publicity experience.
Ana has come full circle achieving her personal passion by helping young people transform their lives and guiding corporate leaders and philanthropists in their journey to give back to the community. As a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), Ana helps establish numerous scholarships and secures an average of $2 million annually to support hundreds of college students, underserved Hispanics, and African Americans, many who are first generation in their families to graduate from college.
She also works with college staff members to create promotional, and fundraising events that serve a number of the college’s programs such as Women in Engineering, TRiO, Save Our Girls and others that support Hispanic and minority students.
Ana helped establish more than 100 scholarships to support thousands of college students with a focus on those who are first generation in college, underserved Hispanics, women and other minorities.
In addition, Ana is a founding member of the PBSC Hispanic Serving Institution converting the college into a Hispanic Serving Institution nationally. She also helped promote and pioneer the Early College Academy with a concentration on Hispanic and minority programming. Her fundraising efforts also led in part to the creation of the PBSC Veterans Success Center which is now ranked in the top ten of community colleges that serve veterans.
Ana also is a member of the Northern Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce, Florida Immigration Coalition and
The Central Hispanic Chamber of Palm Beach County, trustee, and a Hispanic and minority advocate serving several community organizations.
Ana’s leadership has earned her an Esperanza Award nomination, a Bravo Award and a TRiO Students Advocate award.
In her leisure time, Ana and her two sons Adrian Edison and Christian Thomas, enjoy experimenting with gourmet cuisine, loved returning to Ana’s birthplace, as well as Italy and the Cayman Islands. She also enjoys fitness, dancing, painting and the performing arts.
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