5 minute read
Wrapping up 2024 and looking forward into 2025
Susan Suarez President & CEO
Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were joyful.
Many thanks to those who made year-end gifts to support our education programs, and also to those who joined the Legacy Society in 2024, which was created to celebrate friends who affirm their commitment to the Museum through their will or other planned gift. Your generosity will help us continue to encourage the next generation to become upstanders against hate and promoters of mutual respect.
In the last school year, over 20,500 Southwest Florida students and teachers were impacted by our programs, which included Museum field trips, in-class programs, and opportunities to host popup museums such as the Boxcar Exhibit on their campuses. We also welcomed approximately 12,000 visitors from across the U.S. and the world who toured the Museum and attended our programs and events.
We are grateful to all of those who helped make last month’s annual winter fundraiser a successful, sold-out event once again. This year, more Sponsorship Packages for The Luncheon were sold than ever before. Our gratitude to guest speaker Dr. Jud Newborn for his memorable multimedia presentation, “To Life.”
I would also like to acknowledge these generous sponsors:
• Remembrance Sponsors: Shelley and Steven Einhorn
• Testimony Sponsors: Maureen and Arnold Lerner, Estelle and Stuart Price, Ashley and Anthony Solomon
• Hope Sponsors: Patti Bloom, Rissa Grossman, Fran and Rob Nossen
• Inspire Sponsors: Harriet and Louis Berneman, Goldie and Louis Bertone, Nancy Garfien, Diane and Ron McGinty, Dottie McGovern, Carol and Stuart Mest, Susan and Nathaniel Ritter, Sandy and Fred Roth, Nancy and Steve Schachtman, Anne Schuchman and Stephen Light, Mindy and Jay Sterns, Nancy White
• Patron Sponsors: Cheryl and Warren Alifeld, Silvie and Herb Berkeley, Shirley and Marshall Besikof, Penni and Mark Blaskey, Rosalee and Jerry Bogo, Nina and Michael Diamond, Paula and Ronald Filler, Jo Ann and Lawrence Golden, Shelli A. Halper, Ruth and Peter Pogany, Patti and Sid Price, Susan Regenstein, Judy and Stanley Ruskin, Phyllis and Steve Strome
January programs
We kick off the New Year with several programs, starting with Holocaust survivor Judit Price’s special presentation of "Growing Up in Communist Hungary." This takes place at the Museum on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 2:30 p.m. RSVPs are requested. Please visit our website to register: hmcec.org.
On Thursday, Jan. 23, Lecture and Luncheon will include a presentation by Professor Emerita of Italian and Comparative Literature at Florida Atlantic University Dr. Myriam Swennen Ruthenberg. Dr. Ruthenberg’s presentation will focus on Italy’s and Italians’ responses to key moments in its history prior to, during and immediately following WWII. The cost is $65 and will be held at Hilton Naples. For more information, contact ics.naples@gmail.com.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
International Holocaust Remembrance Day will be commemorated with special programs at the Museum and in the community. The U.N. designated Jan. 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day to honor the liberation of Auschwitz in 1945. This year marks the 80th anniversary of that liberation. In addition to the event at the Museum, we are cosponsoring a three-part program honoring IHRD with Jewish Federation of Greater Naples and Italian Cultural Society of Naples. Two of the three parts will focus on the role Italian citizens played in saving Jewish Italians and others from Holocaust atrocities in Italy. All programs require an RSVP. See below for details:
Monday, Jan. 27, 10 a.m., GenShoah Open House/New Member Reception for all GenShoah members and survivors. The program includes a remembrance of Holocaust survivor Lily Lesley and a presentation by Dina Shein on "The Bukharan Jews." This event will be held at the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center. RSVP is required; visit hmcec.org.
Monday, Jan. 27, 1-4 p.m., International Holocaust Remembrance Day’s complimentary Museum admission and special film showing. Please note that last guests will be admitted at 3 p.m. RSVP is required; visit hmcec.org.
Monday, Jan. 27, 6:45 p.m., “My Italian Secret: The Forgotten Heroes” Special Film Presentation. This event will be held at the Nina Iser Jewish Cultural Center. A $5 donation is requested. For more information, contact ics.naples@gmail.com.
New exhibit
“Convincing the Masses: Propaganda Home and Abroad” will be on display Jan.3-June 1 in the Estelle and Stuart Price Gallery.
This exhibit explores the use of propaganda during World War II, primarily focusing on the Nazi use, inside and outside the nation. It also discusses the importance of being able to recognize and be aware of when something seen or heard may be “biased” information by investigating the source of the information. The exhibit will include artifacts and documents from the Museum’s permanent collection as well as materials on loan from the community.
We wish you and your loved ones a happy and healthy New Year and look forward to seeing you at the Museum in 2025!
