Ava Simone Thomas is a 17 year old junior in High School. She is the founder and president of Ava’s Allies and an avid volunteer in her community. Ava is the recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award, the National American Miss Heart of Service Award, the Top Model of the Year “Model Role Model" and the Puma Pride Role Model Award. Ava is an honor roll student, a woodworker, a model, an actress, a pageant queen, a Jr. Glasses Champion for OneSight and Nickelodeon, and a member of the International Thespian Society. She is currently the stage manager for her High School’s theater department and in the future, she plans to become a working stage manager on Broadway. In her spare time, she enjoys DIY projects, creating fun designs on her Cricut, watching home improvement and YouTube videos, and playing with her dog Maisie.
President and Founder
Vice President
Soleil Annastesia Thomas is a sophomore at Tufts University following a pre med track. She is an avid volunteer in her community and is the 2024 Tufts European Center Michael B. Slone Scholar. Soleil serves as Ava’s Allies Vice President and has been one of her sister’s biggest supporters in helping to carry out her mission. In addition to serving on the board of Ava’s Allies, Soleil has previously Co-Chaired the Mission Committee for the Essex, Hudson, and Union county #Walk2ENDALZ. She has volunteered with the Alzheimer’s Association for many years and loves to promote Alzheimer’s awareness, in honor of her Grandma Milly. Soleil is an ALL STAR dancer and currently a member of Tufts Tap. She is a nationally recognized baker who competed on Food Network’s Kids Baking Championship and a former Miss New Jersey for National American Miss, Miss Livingston for Miss New Jersey Teen USA and has held many other titles in different systems. In the future she plans to attend medical school and become a dermatologist.
Simone Natasha Thomas considers being Ava & Soleil’s mom her most important job. She currently serves as Secretary for Ava’s Allies and is Ava’s go to on the board when she has a creative vision that she wants to make a reality. Simone is also an Emmy Award winning Television News Producer who previously worked for NBC News and The Today Show in numerous positions. Simone is a former White House Intern under the Clinton Administration and has a Master’s of Arts in Elementary Education. Her passion for health and wellness encouraged her to trade in teaching Elementary School for teaching Fitness. She is currently a National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer and an Athletics and Fitness Association of America Certified Group Fitness Instructor and well as a licensed Zumba ® Instructor. She is the creator and owner of Simone Starr Fitness, the Co- Chair on the Mission Committee for the Alzheimer’s Association #WalktoEndALZ for Essex, Hudson, and Union Counties in New Jersey and is the former President of the Friends of Dance Non Profit for the Starliners Dance Team.
Secretary
Treasurer
Gregory Thomas currently holds the titles of “Best Dad Ever” and serves as the Treasurer for Ava’s Allies as well as being the “The Master of Technology” on its board. Greg is also a technology professional that has more than 25 years of experience managing software development, IT operations, infrastructure, cybersecurity, M&A, integration and risk in IT services, health care and pharmaceutical services industries. His specialty is transforming IT organizations to support rapid growth. Gregory is currently the Chief Information Officer at a national Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Hospital Network. Gregory also devotes time supporting other non-profit organizations in his community. He is currently in his fourth 3-year term as a board member for Project Morry, a nationally recognized and award winning, year-round youth development organization that empowers youth from at-risk, economically challenged communities to envision a positive future.