Employee Highlight: Brian Thomas
July 15, 2025
HSPP carpenter runs veteran-focused nonprofit organization
Brian Thomas, a carpenter in Health System Physical Plant Zone 2, has a broad range of skills. When he's not maintaining UVA Health buildings, he is running the nonprofit organization, Soldiers of Hope.
Soldiers of Hope — which stands for “Helping Out People Everyday” — is aimed at assisting veterans, the disabled and the elderly with home repairs. Thomas originally envisioned the organization in 2019 but due to financial constraints and the pandemic, the idea had to be put on hold.
“Our organization was finally formed in honor of a loved one, and has taken a lot of hard work and dedication to bring to fruition,” according to Thomas.
Since the organization became fully operational in the spring of 2023, Thomas has spent much of his free time making it a success. In addition to working with partner organizations to identify those in need and performing much of the repair work himself (although he now has more help), he also organizes fundraisers and does all of his own grant writing.
“I wear many, many hats,” he explains. But as the organization has grown, Thomas has brought more volunteers on board — he now has three individuals who take work crews out during the week while he is working his full-time job at UVA.
Soldiers of Hope's most common projects include adjusting entrances and bathrooms to be ADA-compliant, although the organization has also arranged for respite care and other accommodations.
“I just secured a retired nurse from UVA who will visit a veteran with PTSD and dementia once a week so his wife can get out for essential needs,” he said.
Plus, the group has supported disaster relief efforts all over the country, including in Louisiana and Georgia (and UVA provides special paid time off for disaster relief leave, Thomas points out).
The University of Virginia has already played a role in the organization's success, and Thomas hopes to continue that connection. A few years ago, UVA donated a collection of older ramps previously used on the Lawn during Final Exercises to the organization. Soldiers of Hope then installed the ramps at multiple homes in the community to support handicap access. The organization is now preparing to accept an additional supply of ramps this fall from UVA Athletics once the Olympic Sports Center is opened and temporary trailers are no longer in use.
The Soldiers of Hope founder first joined FM in 2007 and has worked in multiple departments, including North Grounds Zone Maintenance, HSPP Zone 4 and Construction & Renovation Services project management, before moving into his current role in HSPP Zone 2.
As a carpenter he performs a variety of tasks, including drywall installation, painting, carpet repair, door repair and general assistance for HVAC, plumbing and electrical trades.
“We get a lot of things that they don't really know who to send to…we pretty much do it all,” he explained.
Thomas grew up in Vermont and then served in the U.S. Navy as a food service specialist. After leaving the Navy he worked in the restaurant management industry before transitioning into construction and eventually joining UVA.
Outside of work and volunteering, Thomas enjoys fishing (although he is too busy to actually fish during the season), hunting and is active in his church.
Soldiers of Hope is actively recruiting individuals who would like to get involved, either by volunteering their trades skills to perform home repairs or through fundraising and grant writing efforts. Those who are interested in getting involved, can email Brian Thomas (soldiersofhope.va@gmail.com) or call (540) 223-1451.
“Every dollar we get in goes right back out to the community,” Thomas said of the organization, which is completely volunteer run at the moment.
For more information, visit the Soldiers of Hope website.
Jane Centofante
Communications senior generalist
UVA Facilities Management
(434) 982-5846
janecentofante@virginia.edu