Tucson Hebrew Academy will honor Tom Warne with its 2012 Tikkun Olam Award at a gala dinner featuring entertainment by comedian Joel Chasnoff on Oct. 28.
Warne is known in the Jewish community as a lay leader and philanthropist. He is chair of the Tucson Jewish Community Center board of directors and has served on the board of THA. His roles have included treasurer of the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona and chair of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona’s annual Community Campaign. Warne was honored as the 2007 JCC Leader of the Year and 2010 JFSA Man of the Year.
As a successful commercial real estate developer, Warne has been instrumental in high profile projects, such as the University of Arizona Main Gate Square. He is also an active leader in Tucson’s civic and political life, serving on the finance committee of former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and on the finance and steering committee of her successor, Rep. Ron Barber. He is past president of the City of Tucson Park-Wise Commission and has served on the boards of the Tucson Downtown Alliance, Fox Theater Foundation, Community Foundation for Southern Arizona and the University of Arizona College of Agriculture.
“THA is all about integrating Jewish and general studies; about showing our students how Jews have always made both worlds one. Tom is a living example of that — using his tremendous talents in both the Jewish and non-Jewish worlds, and showing the entire world the extraordinary benefits of everyone working together,” says THA Head of School Arthur Yavelberg.
Chasnoff has performed his stand-up routine everywhere from a Philadelphia Phillies game to Yeshiva University. He has been the warm-up act for Jon Stewart of The Daily Show and is currently writing a pilot for Comedy Central. His comic memoir of life in the Israel Defense Forces, “The 188th Crybaby Brigade,” made the Denver Post’s best-seller list and received rave reviews.
“Despite all the tragedies that have afflicted the Jewish people throughout the ages, Jews have always maintained their sense of humor. Some would go so far as to say that the ability to laugh has been a key to Jewish survival,” says Yavelberg. “Joel Chasnoff is a modern example of that humor — funny, to be sure, but always in the perspective of what it means to be Jewish in so many different ways.”
The event, which will include dinner, cocktails and a silent auction, begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. Tickets are $150 per person and $250 per couple ($125 per THA parents and $200 for THA couples). For sponsorship opportunities and tickets, visit thaaz.org or contact Jennifer Port at jport@thaaz.org or 529-3888.
