Media Relations
Press Release:
MEDIA CONTACT: Janette Robbins
561-297-4076,
jrobbi13@fau.edu
FAU Center for Holocaust and Human
Rights Education Honors Major Donors at Tribute Dinner
BOCA RATON, FL (March 17, 2010) –Florida Atlantic University Interim President John Pritchett and the Center for Holocaust and Human Rights Education recently hosted “The Paragons of Virtue Tribute Dinner” featuring keynote speaker Arlene Herson at FAU’s Student Union on the Boca Raton campus.
The
dinner honored individuals and institutions whose generous
contributions allowed the Center to sustain its programs through
June 2010 after public funding was discontinued by the State due to
recent budget cuts. The event also heightened awareness of the
Center’s important mission of “promoting respect for
all people through the study of the Holocaust, genocide and human
rights,” and the need to ensure that its important work
continues in schools and throughout the local community.
“It
was gratifying to see such a wonderful turnout of friends and
family in support of our honorees and individuals who understand
the important work that the Center provides within our
community,” said Dr. Rose Gatens, Center director. “As
incidents of anti-Semitism and heightened hostility against
immigrant groups and people of color remain on the rise, the
Center’s work remains more important than ever in our
community.”
“The
Paragons of Virtue Tribute Dinner” honorees were Ethel and
Simon Flegg of the Ferris Corporation; Mr. and Mrs. Ronald L.
Gallatin; Mr. Arthur M. Gutterman; the Jewish Federation of South
Palm Beach County; the League for Educational Awareness of the
Holocaust; the Memorial Library of New York; Mr. and Mrs. Jack
Pechter; the C & J Viner Family Foundation; Dr. and Mrs. Jerry
Weiss of the Norman Shulevitz Foundation; and Betty Zinman of the
Philip Zinman Foundation.
The
evening’s program was educational as well as inspiring as
Boca Raton High School teacher Sharona Kay and her students
addressed the group. In addition, attendees were treated to a new
video about the Center’s service to 348 area schools,
hundreds of teachers and thousands of local school children that
benefit from its training, programs and resources each year.
Arlene
Herson, the national chair of the Legacy of Light Society of the
U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., spoke about the
importance of area programs such as the Center at FAU, and the
valuable role each one plays in remembering the lessons of the
Holocaust, educating young people against genocide and hatred, and
promoting a respect for all people through teaching, research and
community outreach.
A
tribute journal distributed at the event recognized special
individuals and others through advertisements and sponsorships with
all funds used to benefit the Center.
The
Center was established in 1996 by the Florida Department of
Education to support teachers implementing the state’s
mandate for Holocaust education. Through its training, programs and
resources, the Center seeks to educate students about the Holocaust
in order to nurture citizens who recognize prejudice and hatred,
including anti-Semitism and racism; understand that such beliefs
can lead to genocide; know how to intervene against prejudice and
hatred; be prepared to act on behalf of others, even those they may
not know; and understand citizens’ responsibility for
upholding democracy in a pluralistic society.
“While
we celebrate a wonderful evening, the urgent need for continued
support for the Center’s existence beyond June 30, 2010
remains at the heart of our advisory council’s mission and
the need to continue to tell others about this community
treasure,” said Connie Packman, advisory council chair for
FAU’s Center for Holocaust and Human Rights Education.
If
you are interested in learning how you can help, contact Laurie
Carney at 561-297-3606 or
lcarney@fau.edu.
-FAU-
About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University opened its doors in 1964 as the
fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University serves
more than 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students on seven
campuses and sites. Building on its rich tradition as a teaching
university, with a world-class faculty, FAU hosts 10 colleges:
College of Architecture, Urban & Public Affairs, Dorothy F.
Schmidt College of Arts & Letters, the Charles E. Schmidt
College of Biomedical Science, the College of Business, the College
of Education, the College of Engineering & Computer Science,
the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Graduate College, the
Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. For more information,
visit
www.fau.edu
<http://www.fau.edu>
.
