Million-dollar donation highlights Holocaust Museum dinner
Things are changing over at the Holocaust Museum Houston — beginning with the museum itself.
Museum insiders had initially planned to unveil news of HMH’s upcoming expansion next month. After Lester and Sue Smith’s surprise $1 million check presentation during the 22nd Moral Courage Award Dinner on Wednesday, it’s safe to say that cat’s out of the bag.
The unexpected donation benefits HMH’s “Remembering Our Past, Building Our Future” capital campaign. Permanent exhibitions will move to the museum’s temporary location on Kirby near NRG Stadium. The renovated facility will bring attractions indoors, including the Danish Rescue Boat from World War II, and it also will house new exhibits, such as the Diary Room, inspired by Anne Frank, which will encourage visitors to write down their own life experiences. The venue is slated for completion by early 2019.
HMH’s focus, too, will shift. While the museum’s core mission to preserve the memory of Holocaust survivors will remain, future initiatives will include new and engaging elements for children to learn tolerance and acceptance.
“It’s a living museum whose message is still critically necessary,” former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman said during his keynote address. “It’s not the kind of museum that preserves artifacts.”
Although honoree Avner Shalev was unable to attend, the Mitzner and Zeidman families, who co-chaired the event, raised a commendable $1.25 million.
The announcement that Sue and Lester Smith are confirmed to chair next year’s dinner alongside Lester’s children, Shelly and Brian Hendry and Stuart and Limor Smith, only sweetened the deal. With the famously philanthropic and fun-loving couple on host duty, who knows what surprises are in store for 2018?