When some 700 people gathered at the Milwaukee Art Museum on June 29 to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi murder camps at the end of World War II, the event didn’t just remember the past.
It also helped pave the future path of the Holocaust Education and Resource Center, a program of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Coalition for Jewish Learning.
With that occasion and since, “there’s been an extraordinary series of events that has catapulted HERC to a new level,” said Bert L. Bilsky, MJF associate executive vice president and executive director of the Jewish Community Foundation, the MJF’s endowment development program.
“Now we feel we have real support for HERC, which has been doing great work, but quietly and a little below the community radar,” said Steven Baruch, Ph.D., executive director of CJL. “Now we feel there will be community support for the events and projects of this organization.”
Part of this support came from the event itself, which was titled “Portraits in Courage—Honor the Memory.” According to Bilsky, this event raised more than $100,000 for the support of HERC activities.
In addition, toward the end of August the family of Marilyn and Harry Pelz established a $350,000 endowment for HERC through the foundation. Moreover, “there’s potential for more from other Pelz family members,” said Bilsky.
“The combination of the event and the endowment gift is insuring the future of HERC,” said Bilsky. “This is another example of how people in the city want to support the quality of life and education in Milwaukee.”
All this will bring changes to the organization, said Baruch. For one, the center will be renamed for Esther and Nathan Pelz, though its exact new name is not yet decided.
In addition, Amy Shapiro, professor of philosophy at Alverno College, stepped down as HERC director as of June 30.
“She did a tremendous job” and “is largely responsible for getting the center to where it is,” said Baruch. “We hope she will be a consultant for us, but she doesn’t have time to do more.”
She will be replaced by a yet to be hired half-time director. HERC will also expand coordinator Joyce Gutzke’s hours to half-time.
Soon after the new director is hired, a steering committee for HERC will be formed; and “we anticipate there will be several new initiatives announced,” said Baruch.
“We’re reaching thousands” with the efforts HERC has made to date, said Baruch. “We hope with this we will be able to reach thousands more.”
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