School Story
THOMAS ROLLERSON
W h e n T h o m a s R o l l e r s o n f o u n d e d t h e D r e a m F o u n d a t i o n i n 1 9 9 4, h e b r o u g h t t o i t e x t e n s i v e e x p e r i e n c e i n b o t h m a n a g e m e n t a n d m a r k e t i n g i n p r i v a t e a n d n o n - p r o f i t s e c t o r s . F r o m 1 9 8 1 t o 1 9 8 4 T h o m a s w a s C a s t i n g D i r e c t o r a n d H e a d o f t h e C h i l d r e n’s D e p a r t m e n t a t t h e talent agency, A t m o s p h e r e . F r o m 1 9 8 4 t h r o u g h 1 9 8 9 , h e w a s E x e c u t i v e V i c e P r e s i d e n t o f G . S . C . P u b l i s h i n g , w h e r e a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s , h e e s t a b l i s h e d o f f i c e s i n N e w Y o r k , S a n D i e g o a n d o t h e r c i t i e s . I n 1 9 8 9 T h o m a s m a d e a c o n s c i o u s l i f e c h o i c e t o s e r v e h u m a n i t y a n d took the position of National Company Manager and Tour Director at A c c e s s T h e a t r e , a n a t i o n a l p r o f e s s i o n a l t o u r i n g c o m p a n y advocating accessiblity in the arts . I n 1 9 9 4 , a f t e r t h e p r e m a t u r e d e a t h o f h i s p a r t n e r , T h o m a s c o n c e i v e d o f t h e f i r s t a d u l t d r e a m g r a n t i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n i n t h e n a t i o n - D r e a m F o u n d a t i o n .
Since it’s inception 19 years ago, and with Thomas’s steadfast vision, Dream Foundation h a s g r o w n f r o m a s i n g l e d e s k a n d p h o n e i n h i s l i v i n g r o o m t o a v i b r a n t , s o l v e n t a g e n c y o p e r a t i n g f r o m i t s h o m e t o w n o f S a n t a B a r b a r a . I n 2 0 1 2 D r e a m F o u n d a t i o n r e c o r d e d i t s m i l e s t o n e 15 , 0 0 0 t h d r e a m r e q u e s t . Thomas has guided the Foundation, u t i l i z i n g h i s m a r k e t i n g a n d f u n d r a i s i n g s k i l l s in concert with his unique ability to be and effective, compassionate voice for patients on their end of life joune. Under his leadership, Dream Foundation h a s n e v e r e n d e d a f i s c a l y e a r i n t h e r e d . The organization has consistently received a 4-Star rating from the esteemed, Charity Navigator.
As Dream Foundation’s Founder, Thomas travels the country speaking about the mission of the organization and end-of-life issues. Whether addressing guests at an inimtate donor dinner or speaking to 2,500 health care professionals at a corporate conference, Thomas s p e a k s f r o m t h e h e a r t i n a w a y t h a t is p a s s i o n a t e a n d p o i g n a n t w i t h o u t f e e l i n g r e h e a r s e d .
I n a d d i t i o n t o h i s r o l e a s D r e a m F o u n d a t i o n’s F o u n d e r / P r e s i d e n t , T h o m a s h a s s e r v e d o n t h e B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s o f t h e A s s o c i a t i o n o f W i s h G r a n t i n g O r g a n i z a t i o n s , Gentiva H o s p i c e F o u n d a t i o n , S a n t a B a r b a r a F i l m F e s t i v a l , S a n t a B a r b a r a C o n t e m p o r a r y A r t s F o r u m , S a n t a B a r b a r a T h e r a p e u t i c R i d i n g A c a d e m y a n d O a s i s P e t O r p h a n a g e . H e a l s o a c t i v e l y s e r v e d o n c o m m i t t e e s o f t h e A s s o c i a t i o n o f F u n d r a i s i n g P r o f e s s i o n a l s , a n d t h e M u l t i p l e S c l e r o s i s S o c i e t y .
Thomas resides in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and Palm Springs and has been with his partner Michael Erickson since 2000, VP of www.kslresorts.com
They were legally married in Oct of 2008
