Houston’s Holocaust Museum Celebrates 25 Years With an Emotional $1.1 Million Night
Singer/Songwriter Ben Platt Adds Broadway Pizzazz to Hybrid Live/Virtual Event
BY Shelby Hodge // 05.18.21Mandy & Ronnie Caress, Donald & Robin Wayne (Photo by Priscilla Dickson)
Since opening in 1996, Holocaust Museum Houston has welcomed more than 2.5 million visitors and served more than 6.5 million students while expanding to become the nation’s fourth-largest Holocaust museum. Noting those milestones, it was with momentous pride that the museum and its supporters celebrated the 25th anniversary with an evening that earned $1.1 million.
The Silver Jubilee, “Celebrating 25 Years of Hope,” was a hybrid event where VIPs gathered in the ballroom of the Hilton Americas-Houston for a watch party and others, numbering in the thousands, tuned in from home.
The program celebrated not only Holocaust survivors but also those who, through the decades, have brought life to the dream that was launched in 1981. That dedication led to another applauded achievement: Holocaust Museum Houston is the first such museum in the country to be completely English-Spanish bilingual.
“We are so proud of everything the museum has accomplished over the past 25 years,” HMH CEO Kelly J. Zúñiga said in her remarks. “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.”
The program included a celebratory toast by HMH board chairman Carl Josehart, comments from Northern Trust Houston Region president John Hantak, and a virtual performance by Tony Award-winning actor, singer, and songwriter Ben Platt (who also has a Grammy and an Emmy in his trophy case). Emcee Linda Lorelle conducted a live virtual Q&A with the Broadway talent.
Serving as Silver Jubilee chairs were Rhona and Bruce Caress, Kisha and Jason Itkin and Nicole and Evan Katz. Handling honors as host committee chairs were Ellen and Dan Trachtenberg.
SHOP VALOBRA
Note: As part of the year-long celebration of the milestone anniversary, Holocaust Museum Houston will highlight 25 features from its history each month through special exhibitions, films, and other dedicated programming. Information on those events can be found here.
_md.jpg)
_md.jpeg)
