Honouring lifetimes spent in service of our community

 

Adam Minsky, President & CEO of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, writes:

Earlier this week, UJA Federation shared some extraordinary news with the official launch of the Tomorrow Campaign’s Honey and Barry Community Park Initiative. The news was made more special thanks to the incredible announcement of a matching fund established by the Sherman family in honour of their parents. This fund will match all new gifts up to a total of $10 million.

I know I speak on behalf of UJA Federation and all its agency partners when I express how blessed we were to have been enriched by the leadership, dedication to community and generosity of Honey and Barry Sherman z”l.

They were at the forefront of every major community initiative going back decades and were incredible leaders who left an immeasurable impact on Toronto’s Jewish community, in Israel and on Canadian society. In fact, is it difficult to imagine a Jewish life in the GTA that has not, in some way, been impacted by the efforts of Honey and Barry.

One of Honey and Barry’s defining characteristics was their passion and excitement for bringing the Jewish community together, a goal that has always been a hallmark of UJA Federation. To recognize this passion a magnificent, two-acre green space, located at the south end of Sherman Campus, will be named in their honour, and like Honey and Barry, this space will reflect the dynamic life of our community.

The Honey and Barry Community Park will be a space for summer and winter camps that enrich Jewish life and foster Jewish identity in our children. It will be a lively place where people will come together for concerts, special events, holiday celebrations and more. It will be home to specialty community markets that promote local artists and vendors. It will be a magnet for activities as diverse as our community – from baseball games in the summer, to picnics in the fall, cross country skiing in the winter and nature hikes in the spring.

We are thrilled that the Honey and Barry Community Park will serve a beacon for the community. A place to come together in celebration and unity, and we are excited that it will be happening right in the heart of Toronto’s Jewish community.

Honey and Barry were truly inspiring leaders. They led through their generosity and made a lasting impact through their time, their minds and their hearts. Anyone who knew them was inspired by their drive to make life better for all people. As long-time champions and founding leaders of UJA Federation’s Tomorrow Campaign, Honey & Barry’s dream was to help build engaging hubs of Jewish life in the Greater Toronto Area for generations to come.

We hope that you will consider making a gift, of any kind, to help complete their vision for this community space, and to honour two of the most outstanding and special people that our Jewish community has ever known.

Learn more about the Honey and Barry Community Park Initiative