Local

Hadassah ‘Tea with Honey’ to honor Manson

Honey Manson, 1949
Honey Manson, 1949

Hadassah Southern Arizona will honor local volunteer Honey Manson, the founder of its Nurses’ Council, with a fundraising event called “Tea with Honey” on Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 4 p.m. at the Tucson Jewish Community Center.

“The word ‘no’ is not in Honey’s vocabulary,” says Debra Jacobs, event chair and Hadassah Southern Arizona vice president of development. “She does not accept it as an answer and she certainly will not use the word ‘no’ when responding to a request for help.”

Manson, who recently celebrated her 90th birthday, continues to serve the Jewish community as a volunteer for B’nai B’rith, the Tucson International Jewish Film Festival committee, Jewish War Veterans, Jewish Family & Children’s Services’ LEAH (Let’s End Abusive Households) and the First Rate Second Hand thrift store. A Tucsonan since 1993, she serves on the boards of B’nai B’rith’s Covenant House and the Gerd & Inge Strauus Manor on Pantono. She has been an active board member of Hadassah for many years and is the coordinator and program chair for the Nurses’ Council.

“If I don’t have something to do, I feel I am at a loss. I should be helping somewhere,” Manson has said.

“Honey is a strong woman who brings passion, intelligence and energy to everything she does. She is an amazing woman who seems to have the energy of a woman a third her age,” says Jacobs.

Barbara Sofer
Barbara Sofer

The fundraiser will feature guest speaker Barbara Sofer, who is the Israel director of public relations for Hadassah and a prize-winning journalist.

As a former nurse, Manson has a passion for nursing care and education. All proceeds from “Tea with Honey” will benefit the Henrietta Szold Hadassah-Hebrew University School of Nursing’s clinical master’s degree program in Jerusalem.

The cost of admission is $72; donations of $90 and $180 per person will receive special notice in the program. RSVP by Oct. 27 by sending a check, payable to Hadassah, to Jacobs at 5940 E. Placita Alta Reposa, Tucson, AZ 85750. For more information contact Jacobs at 275-5044 or postum117@gmail.com.