A Member of 23 Boards, He Does More Than Just Show Up

While Jay Thomas works as president of Six Flags Magic Mountain and Hurricane Harbor by day, he serves as a volunteer by night and weekends. Thomas is a member on 23 boards and committees for organizations that serve the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys, and he does more than just attend meetings. “A lot of people give their time and a little something here, a little something there,” said L/B/W Insurance & Financial Services, Inc. CEO Mitzi Like, who serves with him on the Single Mothers Outreach board. “This guy actually rolls up his sleeves and helps do whatever needs to be done. … He gets people involved.” Thomas, who has been volunteering in the valleys for at least two years since he moved to Santa Clarita, serves organizations such as Michael Hoefflin Foundation, Child & Family Center and Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley. He is known for opening the theme park to organizations to host fundraisers, such as the annual Arthritis Walk held by the Arthritis Foundation. Thomas said his volunteering days began around age six when he started volunteering with his grandfather, who helped establish a rehabilitation center in Texas. At age 12, he started a “business” called “Jay’s Bicycle Service” where he ended up fixing and changing bicycle tires for free, he said. His volunteering life only expanded as he grew older. Thomas said the key to being an effective volunteer is being active. “The one thing I won’t do is be on a board that I can’t participate in, (or) more importantly, that I can’t make a difference in,” Thomas said. With 22 years of experience with theme parks and 15 years of experience in executive roles, Thomas said he makes himself valuable as a volunteer by sharing his financial analysis abilities. “I can look at the books and determine how solid or healthy that organization is,” Thomas said. “Then (I) provide direction for how we get ourselves out of whatever the position may be or to better preserve ourselves for the future.” Thomas, who mostly volunteers before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m., says he is able to do it because his family is so supportive of his passion for helping others. They even come help him volunteer at some events, he added. “I just feel we all need to come together as a whole for the great good of the all,” he said. “There’s a true sense of satisfaction and reward from participating with these organizations.”