Holocaust Museum Marks 25 Years Virtually — with $1.1 million Till!

Holocaust Museum Marks 25 Years Virtually — with $1.1 million Till!

Mandy and Ronnie Caress, Donald and Robin Wayne

HOUSTON'S HOLOCAUST MUSEUM, the nation's fourth-largest, celebrated its 25th anniversary in grand style — with a blockbuster fundraising gala that raised $1.1 million.


The virtual affair, dubbed the Silver Jubilee, streamed live earlier this month, with a VIP watch party at the Hilton Americas in Downtown. "The program reflected on the museum's history and celebrated its many accomplishments from its inspiration in 1981 to its opening in 1996 to its expansion in 2019," according to a statement from event organizers.

Grammy-, Emmy- and Tony-winning actor and singer Ben Platt headlined the event, as his performance was live-streamed to guests. Watch party guests were able to talk with the Dear Evan Hansen star remotely.

"We are so proud of everything the museum has accomplished over the last 25 years," said Kelly J. Zúñiga, CEO of Holocaust Museum Houston, in a statement. "Looking back at our incredible past has energized us and inspired us to reach new goals for the future of Holocaust and human rights education."

Chairs for the evening were Rhona and Bruce Caress, Kisha and Jason Itkin, and Nicole and Evan H. Katz, with Ellen and Dan Trachtenberg serving as host committee chairs. The long list of honorary chairs for the momentous affair included Joan and Stanford Alexander, Judy and David Bell, Laurie and Milton Boniuk, Kelli Cohen Fein and Martin Fein, Sandra and Steve Finkelman, Shirley Rotbein Flaum, Frank Goldberg, Shelly and Brian Hendry, Rosellen Brown Hoffman and Marvin Hoffman, Velva G. and H. Fred Levine, Edith and Josef, z"l Mincberg, Marci and Ronnie Morgan, The Morgan Family, Macey and Harry Reasoner, Glen Rosenbaum, Sue Smith, Stuart and Limor Smith, Laurie Morgan Silver, LCSW, Sandra Weiner, Sharon and Mark Wise, and Lorraine and E. D., z"l Wulfe.

Funds raised will benefit the museum's general operating funds with a focus on educational programming.

Carl Josehart and Sam Jacobson

Rhona and Bruce Caress

Kisha and Jason Itkin

Ellen and Dan Trachtenberg

Dr. Kelly Zúñiga, John Hantak, Linda Lorelle

Nicole and Evan H. Katz

Laurie and Dr. Milton Boniuk


Parties
Fall Philanthropy Report: Urban Harvest Farmers Market Helps ‘Transform Food Accessibility’

What year was your organization launched? Urban Harvest’s Saturday Farmers Market started in 2004 with just seven vendors, providing an outlet for local farms, community and backyard gardeners to sell fresh produce harvested directly from their soils. Now in its 20th year, the market has grown to be one of the largest markets in Texas, supporting over 100 local farmers, ranchers, and food artisans all from within 180 miles of Houston. The market draws 3,000 customers every Saturday morning and includes many original vendors like Animal Farm, Atkinson Farms, and Wood Duck Farm.

Keep Reading Show less

Nancy Gonzalez, Denise Reyes, Christina Jack, Destiny Fernandisse (photo by Emily Jaschke)

WHEN THE GRANDE dame of Houston philanthropy steps up to chair the annual gala for one of Houston’s most elite cultural institutions, expect high elegance to abound and big bucks to roll in.

Keep Reading Show less

Debbie Festari, Ann Carl, Alicia Smith and Edward Sanchez (photo by Jacob Power)

A FABULOUSLY FASHIONABLE crowd of more than 650 turned up at the American Cancer Society’s annual Tickled Pink luncheon at the Post Oak Hotel. All wearing pink, because of course, they came to raise money for breast cancer research, and also to support some of Houston’s most generous and beloved ladies — chair Sippi Khurana and honorary chairs Leisa Holland-Nelson-Bowman, Donna Lewis, and Beth Wolff.

Keep Reading Show less
Wellness+Giving Back