Temple Beth Torah
5th Annual Ner Tamid (Eternal Light) Award
A program honoring Anita Bonanno
Benefiting Temple Beth Torah
Saturday, December 7, 2024
Evening’s Celebration (Silent Auction available throughout the evening. Final bid at 8:45 pm)
6:15 – 7:00 pm Wine and Cheese Reception
7:00 – 8:15 pm Program
Welcome by Rabbi Dan, Master of Ceremonies
Havdalah Service
Toasts to our honoree
Entertainment
8:15 – 9:00 pm Dessert Reception
Congratulations to this year’s Ner Tamid Award honoree Anita Bonanno
Anita was born in Dallas, Texas, the child of Holocaust survivors. She began singing at the age of 5 and majored in Music at the University of North Texas, with a concentration in voice. Blind from birth, Anita had many challenges in completing her education. In 1976 she came to Houston for training as a clerk typist at the Lighthouse of Houston. In the fall of 1995, while she was a guest artist at the Lighthouse International, in New York City, Anita learned about Guiding Eyes for the Blind and their Specialized Training Program. She applied to the program and after what seemed an interminable wait, Anita met and
fell in love with Illy, her first guide dog. Since Illy, Anita has been back to Guiding Eyes and worked with guide dogs Nemo, Ephram, Magee, and now Loki.
Anita has been a past member of the Graduate Council for Guiding Eyes for the Blind and board member of the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. She was awarded the Peter F. Campbell Award in 2002 by Guiding Eyes for the Blind. She was a High Holiday cantorial soloist at TBT for several years and continues to sing at the TBT Holocaust Remembrance service. She has been a vocal soloist for various religious and civic events in the greater Houston area. Anita is a former professional member of Mu Phi Epsilon, a professional music fraternity, and a performing member of the Houston Tuesday Musical Club. In June 2004, she released a CD entitled “Friends Forever” which raised funds for the Specialized Training Program at Guiding Eyes. Anita is married to Emil Bonanno, a retired computer technician.
Anita was in the ensemble for Sweeney Todd at Main Street Theater in Houston in 1992. Other shows included Into the Woods, and Toad of Toad Hall. She was also in Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris and The Land Where the Good Songs Go, a Jerome Kern Retrospective, both at the Evelyn Rubinstein Jewish Community Center in Houston. In 2021, Anita and two other graduates of Guiding Eyes released another CD to benefit the Puppy Raiser Regions at Guiding Eyes. Anita continues to support and advocate for others with visual impairments and always seeks the best for every individual.
ALL IN-PERSON GUESTS ARE INVITED TO THE WINE AND CHEESE AND DESSERT RECEPTIONS
Tickets: Gold Level: $250.00 per ticket includes admission, a ½- page ad in the program, and a glass of wine
Silver Level: $100.00 per ticket includes admission, ¼- ad in the program, and a glass of wine
Bronze Level: $50.00 per ticket includes admission and a glass of wine
Additional glasses of wine are available at the wine and cheese reception with a suggested donation.
Zoom Only: $25.00 per ticket for Zoom access.
To purchase tickets, visit the Temple Beth Torah Donation page at TBThumble.org or click HERE.
Or, send a check to TBT 320 Shallow Dr. Humble, TX 77338 noting Ner Tamid in the memo.
We would like everyone at Temple Beth Torah to have the opportunity to honor Anita. If finances are a concern for attending in person or on Zoom, please contact Rabbi Dan at rabbi@tbthumble.org or any board member. Please feel free to share this information with anyone you think may be interested in attending.
For additional information, please contact Stacey Blumin at admin@tbthumble.org or 281-446-5611.
Please RSVP by November 18, 2024
