HMH Bearing Witness - December 2017

EVENT

2018 Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award Dinner

2017 Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award Dinner

22 nd Moral Courage Award Dinner Raises $1.25 Million for Holocaust Museum Houston Educational Programs Lester and Sue Smith surprise Museum with $1 million capital campaign gift

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With 1,100 people on hand, Holocaust Museum Houston (HMH) celebrated its 22nd Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award Dinner Tuesday, May 23, 2017, at the Marriott Marquis Houston. The annual dinner, one of Houston’s largest philanthropic events, raised more than $1.25 million to support the worldwide educational programs of the museum. Just as the program was coming to a close, Lester and Sue Smith surprised guests with a $1 million donation to the museum’s “Remembering Our Past. Building Our Future.” capital campaign. What’s more, the Smiths announced they and Lester’s children, daughter Shelly and her husband Brian Hendry, and son Stuart and his wife Limor Smith, would chair next year’s dinner, which drew extended applause from the audience. The evening honored Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, and Avner Shalev, Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate since 1993. Yad Vashem is the ultimate source for Holocaust education, remembrance, documentation and research. From the Mount of Remembrance in Jerusalem, Yad Vashem’s integrated approach incorporates meaningful educational initiatives, groundbreaking research and inspirational exhibits.

The keynote address was provided by Joe Lieberman, who retired from the United States Senate in 2013 after a 20-year career of service. Lieberman spoke of the importance of HMH’s work and the community’s role to never forget. “As I look around this crowd tonight,” he said, “I am confident that we will not just survive, but we will flourish.” Chairing this year’s event were long-time museum supporters Ira Mitzner and Fred Zeidman, along with their families. Serving as honorary chairs were Pastor John and Diana Hagee, Barbara and Gerald Hines, Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, and The Honorable Sylvester Turner, Mayor of Houston. Host committee chairs included Marcia and David Solomon, Joy and Benjamin Warren, and Shira and Daniel Yoshor. Previous recipients have included Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel; activist and actress Mia Farrow; U.S. Sen. John McCain; the late Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street Journal reporter who was murdered by terrorists in Pakistan; former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell; former U.S. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, Jr.; former U.S. Sen. Robert Dole; filmmaker Steven Spielberg; and former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, among others.

George W. Bush 43 rd President of the United States

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Top to Bottom: 1. Sue and Lester Smith 2: Dinner Co-chairs Steven and Stephanie Mitzner, Laura Mitzner Paletz and Steven Paletz 3: Dinner Co-chair Ira Mitzner, HMH CEO Dr. Kelly J. Zúñiga, HMH Board Chair Gary Markowitz, Dinner Co-chair Fred Zeidman 4: Yad Vashem's Shaya Ben Yehuda, Dinner Host Committee Chairs Joy and Benjamin Warren 5: Senator Joe Lieberman and Mayor Sylvester Turner

Thursday, May 24, 2018 Hilton Americas - Houston Dinner Chairs Lester & Sue Smith

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Shelly & Brian Hendry Limor & Stuart Smith

Host Committee Chairs Mady & Ken Kades

Tables from $6,000 and Tickets from $750 For more information: lbjdinner@hmh.org

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Self-portrait, President George W. Bush

8 | HOLOCAUST MUSEUM HOUSTON

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