In many ways, the values Bunny Hodas embodies—such as a commitment to social justice and human rights—can be traced back to her parents, Ernie and Shirley, and her upbringing at Birmingham Unitarian Church in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Shortly before Bunny was born, her dad Ernie saw a print advertisement for Birmingham Unitarian Church, which was meeting at a local school because it did not yet have a building of its own. Jumping headfirst into engagement with the church, which shared their dedication to peace and justice, Ernie and Shirley quickly became invaluable members, helping the congregation with everything from promotional efforts to establishing its first building, and more. As Bunny explains, her parents “cared about the congregation, its growth, and its future.”
Bunny Hodas with her parents, Shirley and Ernie
For Bunny, her involvement with the congregation helped reinforce the values she was being instilled with at home. Bunny recalls how discussions about social justice and current events at Birmingham Unitarian Church helped her gain “a broader picture of what was going on in the world.” She also remembers how participating with the congregation in UUSC’s Guest at Your Table program, which raises support for and awareness about UUSC’s grassroots human rights work, reinforced another value her parents were modeling: "sharing what we had.”
The Hodas family’s dedication to Birmingham Unitarian Church continued for decades. After living in Florida following college and starting a family, Bunny moved back to Michigan and attended Birmingham Unitarian Church with her parents and her daughter. The family attended together for many years and left a lasting impact—so much so, in fact, that the social hall is named “Hodas Family Hall.”
While, sadly, Ernie passed away in 2013 and Shirley in 2015, their impact on growing the presence and reach of Unitarian Universalism endures—and is continued by Bunny. Now living in Arizona, Bunny is Co-Chair of the Board at UU Congregation of Phoenix, has helped lead stewardship and capital campaigns, and is involved in UU Justice Arizona. Additionally, she is currently the project manager for a building renovation team in addition to being involved in stewardship and social justice.
Ernie and Shirley Hodas
Bunny also carries forward her parents’ steadfast dedication to UUSC’s human rights work. Ernie and Shirley supported UUSC for decades, encouraged UUSC to prioritize domestic as well as international programs, and—reminiscent of how they helped with promotional efforts at Birmingham Unitarian Church—provided special support for UUSC’s website and digital marketing in order to help UUSC reach more people and grow into the future.
In addition to her own involvement with UUSC today, Bunny is helping the Hodas legacy continue even further by including UUSC in her estate plans. She explains, “For me, UUSC is one of the very best organizations that express my UU values and my life values. Because of their track record, I have confidence UUSC will express that far into the future, well beyond the time I’m gone.”
UUSC is deeply grateful to the Hodas family for their social justice legacy and the many ways they have helped Unitarian Universalist values have a wider reach in our world.
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