Miriam women honor Lazarus, celebrate anniversary

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The Miriam Hospital Women’s Association (MHWA) celebrated its 120th anniversary at their annual meeting and installation of officers on June 7 at Ledgemont Country Club in Seekonk, Massachusetts. Guest speaker, Rabbi Sarah Mack, president of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island, and rabbi at Temple Beth-El, participated in the milestone celebration, sharing the Jewish historical significance of the number 120.

During the luncheon, Diane Lazarus, a dedicated hospital volunteer, was honored with the thirty-third MHWA Recognition Award.  Arthur Sampson, president of the hospital, was presented with a check representing the money raised from this year’s equipment event, along with the annual gift from the Gift Shop. The attendees enjoyed a video montage created from photos gathered from the archives, spanning the history of the organization.

In 1897, the Miriam Lodge #13 was formed by a group of women who sought to care for the ill and needy in the Jewish immigrant community. It was these women who raised the initial money to be used as a deposit for the purchase of a brick building on Parade Street, home of the first Miriam Hospital. The MHWA annual equipment event, which evolved through the many years of the women’s’ fundraising efforts, raises money to purchase cutting-edge hospital equipment that might not be in the current budget. The MHWA also plans educational events for the greater Rhode Island community throughout the year.

For information on membership and future programs, contact Vickie Scott at 401-793-3520 or Vickie.Scott@lifespan.org.

Submitted by

The Miriam Hospital

Womens Association

Miriam Hospital Womens Association, Lazarus