Jackson, MS—March 7, 2023
On March 1, Emily Zilich Thomas became the first Chief Development Officer for Together for Hope. Mrs. Thomas comes to Together For Hope (TFH) from the world of education where she has served as a teacher and counselor. She grew up in Connecticut and felt called to New Orleans, Louisiana, after Hurricane Katrina. As a public school teacher in post-Katrina New Orleans, Mrs. Thomas raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for curricular supplements, extra-curricular access, athletic projects, and out-of-state college tours. Because of the access these opportunities provided, many of her students went to college and have become successful adults.
Mrs. Thomas has always pursued a mission driven life and feels like this step into the nonprofit world is exactly where God is leading her. When asked about her new role as CDO at TFH, she said, “I am so excited to have the opportunity to join Together for Hope and participate in their amazing work. I consider it a privilege to come on to build sustainable fundraising and marketing structures that will support our mission to end persistent rural poverty across America. I hope the strategies I can implement in this role will uphold our mission for many years to come.”
Jason Coker, President of Together for Hope, believes that Mrs. Thomas is the perfect fit for this new position. Coker sees this new position in development as crucial for the sustainability of TFH: “This position is critical for the future of our work across rural America. We needed someone with high energy and internal drive. Emily exudes the perfect balance of confidence and humility that makes her uniquely suited to engage donors with clarity of vision and relational generosity. I’m thrilled to have her on our team!”
Mrs. Thomas earned a BS in Biblical Studies and Secondary English Education, and a MS in International Curriculum from Cairn University, where she was the captain of the soccer team and two-time All American. She is happily married to Chase Thomas (who’s wedding made national news) and they are the proud parents of an almost 3-year-old, Zilly.
Together for Hope
2906 N. State Street, Suite 300
Jackson, MS 39216
tfhope.org