Thursday, April 18, 2024
88.2 F
Orlando

Holocaust Center Announces $10 Million Raised for Orlando Museum after Pitch for Tourist Development Tax Grant

The Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida publicly launches its campaign to raise funds for a new museum in Downtown Orlando, announcing it has already garnered $10 million in gifts. Local benefactors who have made significant contributions include the Ginsburg Family Foundation with $4 million, hotelier Harris Rosen with $1 million, long-time Central Florida philanthropists Jim and Alexis Pugh with $1 million and community leaders Jim and Valeria Shapiro with $1 million.

The announcement of the capital campaign follows the Center’s presentation Monday, Feb. 18 to the Orange County Tourist Development Tax Application Review Committee (ARC), seeking an additional $10 million in tourist development tax dollars.




“Located in the nation’s number one tourist destination with a record-setting 72 million annual visitors, a museum of this caliber will provide a world-class venue that ensures the Holocaust is understood and forever remembered,” said Harris Rosen, whose hotels have hosted the group’s annual Dinner of Tribute since 1991.

The dream for a new museum came closer to reality just a year ago, when the City of Orlando offered to lease the site of the former Chamber of Commerce Building and adjacent Senator Beth Johnson Park to the Holocaust Center for $1 per year. Plans are for the Holocaust Center to move from its current Maitland location in 2023. The Center will be renamed the Holocaust Museum for Hope & Humanity.

Early donations form a sizable amount of the $35 million needed to fund renovations and expansion of the old Chamber building, create new permanent exhibits and add $5 million to its endowment for ongoing programs.

The new museum is expected to draw 150,000 visitors annually and contribute millions in economic impact to Central Florida.

Spearheading the fundraising effort, as he did for the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, is long-time Holocaust Center board member, Jim Pugh. “I am wholeheartedly committed to ensuring future generations have an understanding of the Holocaust,” said Pugh. “I expect many Central Floridians will proudly step up to join us to make it a reality.”

Alan Ginsburg, whose foundation made the largest investment in the museum to date, echoed those comments. “This is a responsibility we must pass on to the next generation. We believe this museum will not only educate the history of the Holocaust but communicate a relevant message to the human rights issues we all face today.”

Added Jim Shapiro, “This is a pivotal moment in the life of the Holocaust Center and its place in our community. It promises to be a most transformational force in combatting all kinds of hate and prejudice.”

The Holocaust Museum for Hope & Humanity is expected to become a major landmark destination for Orlando. Exhibit spaces are being designed by the world-renowned firm of Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA), creator of the galleries for the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C.

The planned 40,000 square-foot facility will include a permanent gallery, temporary exhibit space, staff offices and more, allowing for an array of cultural and educational experiences. The architect for the project is award-winning local firm HuntonBrady Architects. Major Holocaust museums can be found throughout the U.S., including Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, Houston and Washington, D.C.

“For a long time, we’ve been telling a very big, important story in a small space,” explained Pam Kancher, executive director of the Holocaust Center. “What makes this especially important now is that the world is starting to forget. A recent survey showed 66 percent of millenials didn’t know what Auschwitz was.”

Related Articles

37 COMMENTS

  1. Superb blog! Do you have any tips and hints for aspiring writers?
    I’m planning to start my own site soon but I’m a little lost
    on everything. Would you advise starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m totally confused ..

    Any tips? Thanks a lot!

  2. I think that what you said made a bunch of sense.
    But, what about this? what if you added a little content?
    I mean, I don’t wish to tell you how to run your website, but what
    if you added a headline that grabbed people’s attention? I
    mean Holocaust Center Announces $10 Million Raised for Orlando Museum after Pitch for Tourist Development Tax Grant | WON is kinda vanilla.
    You might glance at Yahoo’s front page and note how they create
    post headlines to get people interested.

    You might add a related video or a pic or two to grab readers interested about what you’ve got to say.
    In my opinion, it could make your website a little livelier.

  3. Hey there! Quick question that’s totally off topic.
    Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My
    website looks weird when viewing from my iphone.

    I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might be
    able to correct this issue. If you have any suggestions,
    please share. Many thanks!

  4. Hello, i believe that i saw you visited my site so i got here
    to return the favor?.I am attempting to find things to enhance my web site!I
    assume its good enough to use a few of your ideas!!

  5. Hello, i believe that i saw you visited my site so i got here
    to return the favor?.I am attempting to find things to enhance my web site!I
    assume its good enough to use a few of your ideas!!

  6. Hello, i believe that i saw you visited my site so i got here
    to return the favor?.I am attempting to find things to enhance my web site!I
    assume its good enough to use a few of your ideas!!

  7. Aw, this was an exceptionally good post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to create a good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a whole
    lot and never seem to get nearly anything done.

  8. Superb blog! Do you have any tips and hints for aspiring
    writers? I’m planning to start my own blog soon but I’m a little lost on everything.
    Would you advise starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many options out there that I’m completely confused ..
    Any recommendations? Appreciate it!

  9. Howdy! Quick question that’s entirely off topic.
    Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My site looks weird when viewing from my iphone4.
    I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might be able
    to resolve this issue. If you have any recommendations,
    please share. Appreciate it!

  10. Every weekend i used to visit this website, for the reason that i want enjoyment, since
    this this web page conations really pleasant funny stuff too.

  11. Thanks for sharing for this info, it can be useful for someone to use
    it to composing some essay, for instance. I particularly want to note your ability to express data in an accessible manner.
    As a popular-science blogger, I want to be sure of every part of my writing to meet inquiring heads
    with quality information and keep their interest before the close of the article.
    You made me read it till the end

  12. Thank you for sharing this precious information together.

    As a practicing author, I can say that I was attempting to include some facts and sparking ideas in my writing practice intuitively.
    I think it’s crucial to spice your writing if you want to grab the readers’ attention. However, you did good,
    thanks

  13. It is apparent that the author is a data geek. I like
    how he writes and organizes facts. It’s always such a joy
    to read articles made by actual professionals. I’m fed up with
    all that no-name, ghostwritten articles. That’s the reason it was so wonderful to
    look at a compelling piece. I see the author has ground knowledge it the topic as well as some practical experience.
    This sort of information is more valuable than copypasted blog
    posts ideas.

  14. What an outstanding article, thank you for climbing this
    issue. Being deeply reassured that a whole lot of people
    would share your perspectives, and I showed
    your writing to a friend of mine. And that’s when the arguments began…
    We have various views but, needless to say, no problem,
    be it just something routine or genuinely important, should destroy a
    true friendship. In my humble view, which certainly has the right to exist, the next point you have made cannot be
    contested.

  15. I enjoyed the report and assume you’ve got more such stuff?
    If yes, so please post it because it is somewhat unusual for me at the present
    moment, and not for me personally, that is my own view.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisement -

Latest Articles