Jaye Lopez was born and raised in a large family in suburban Los Angeles, CA – she has over 20 first cousins! With degrees in English and Gender Studies from the University of Southern California, Jaye has worked as a fundraiser with several progressive not-for-profit organizations for nearly 12 years. She and her partner Anne own and maintain an 80+-year-old bungalow in NE Washington which is framed by two towering European Beech trees that are over 200 years old.

Jaye was raised Roman Catholic and Anne is a cradle Episcopalian, which was part of what led them to St. Thomas’ in Fall 2007. “This was the first parish on our list,” she says, “and we never went anywhere else.” An avid reader, Jaye sometimes reads as many as three or four books at a time... when she’s not working or volunteering.

As a natural “people-person,” Jaye loves developing and nurturing relationships with others. She admits that “the administrative functions of my job appeal to my natural tendency to organize things. I’ll go into the supply room at work to grab paper clips and wind up spending 20 minutes organizing items on shelves, loading paper into the copier or fax machines or busting out my label maker!”

Jaye’s interpersonal and organizational skills have led to much committee work in her job as well as at St. Thomas’. She is currently co-chair of the Inclusion Committee and co-chair of the Finance subcommittee of the Discernment Committee. Plus, she and Anne will be hosting a Foyer Dinner this month.

“Anne and I have both been overwhelmed with how completely we’ve been embraced by St. Thomas’,” she explains. “I think we were missing that strong communal and spiritual aspect in our lives. We approach our faiths in very different ways which makes St. Thomas’ the right place for both of us – it’s okay for us to be in different places. We both feel nurtured in the ways we need to be nurtured.”

St. Thomas’ is blessed to have Jaye and Anne as part of our family. Thank you for all you do!