Helen Thomas Tribute Work Seeks Donations

Journalist Helen Thomas (right), the dean of the White House press corps, marked her 89th birthday in 2009 by sharing cupcakes with U.S. President Barack Obama, who observed his 48th birthday the same day, August 4.

Fundraising is now underway to finance this unique tribute to a legendary journalist and leading Arab American - a sculpture of Thomas by sculptor and former White House photojournalist Susan Tinsley McElhinney. 

Click HERE for details on supporting this project.

Helen Thomas was born to Lebanese Christian immigrant parents in Winchester, Kentucky and raised in Detroit, Michigan, where she attended public schools and graduated from Wayne State University. She launched her journalism career as a copy girl for the Washington Daily News and joined wire service United Press International (UPI) in 1943. Thomas took on the White House beat for UPI as President John F. Kennedy took office in 1961; she remained with UPI until 2000, when she became a columnist for Hearst Newspapers. Thomas has been “first woman to…” on many occasions.

Thomas is an honorary Member of the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, where one of her vintage typewriters is on display in the permanent Making an Impact exhibit.

Susan Tinsley McElhinney is an Arlington, Virginia-based sculptor whose private commissions in clay and bronze may be found in homes and formal gardens throughout the U.S. She was a rare female photographer at Newsweek magazine in the 1970s, covering the White House, Capitol Hill and presidential travels and currently works as photo editor for the National Wildlife Federation. McElhinney attended The Maryland Institute College of Art and The Corcoran School of Art.

Najwa Saad, who directs marketing and fundraising for the sculpture project, originally proposed the idea of the Helen Thomas bronze sculpture to the Arab American National Museum (AANM) as a fitting tribute to Thomas' distinguished career in journalism and indomitable pursuit of the truth. Saad introduced her friend, sculptor Susan McElhinney, to the AANM with the sculpture project in mind. A Palestinian American, Saad has worked in global telecommunications for over 10 years and currently directs a number of cultural promotion projects.