Holocaust Museum Houston Digital Newsletter November 2015

SPEAKING FROM THE HEART

Eileen Weisman Supports Holocaust Museum Houston Holocaust Museum Houston’s new “Create a Legacy” program helps to structure, operate and secure planned gifts that assist the Museum in sustaining its mission for the long term. The program is a community-wide program managed by the Houston Jewish Community Foundation and fully funded by a grant from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. The Museum is proud to be part of this community effort, which supports and will further membership into the Museum’s Generation to Generation Legacy Society. Former Museum Board Chair Eileen Weisman is thrilled to see HMH participate in this program. Since her time as chair, she has advocated the need to secure and sustain the future of HMH through legacy gifts. “Giving a legacy gift allows us to support HMH beyond our lifetime and ensure our Museum’s doors stay open to continue teaching the values of respect and compassion,” Weisman said. Having always referred to HMH as “the museum with a heart,” Weisman chose to be the voice of HMH for her in-laws, Holocaust survivors who found it difficult to speak of their experience. Beginning as a docent, and moving within the organization through various leadership positions, she was able to see the many ways that HMH’s outreach programs touched people within and beyond our community. Speaking from her own heart, Weisman said, “Our impact is evident as you hear students’ comments after a tour or you view the overwhelming support for the Museum’s annual events such as the Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award Dinner and the Guardian of the Human Spirit Luncheon. I want this enthusiasm for our mission to continue beyond my lifetime. If I can give even just a small amount to help HMH sustain its future, I believe I have given a very special gift to my Museum with a heart.” Weisman attributes HMH’s feel as a “Museum with a heart” to its founders and local survivors. “Their constant presence, whether sharing their stories, artifacts or wisdom gives inspiration to all. And as our survivors age, their voices are not as strong, and many are no longer with us. I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility to ensure we keep their stories alive in some way. Legacy giving gives me the opportunity to show them how much I respect them and what they represent in the way of inspiration for living,” Weisman said. HMH is proud to bring Weisman’s plan full-circle with the launch of “Create a Legacy,” which is made possible by the assistance and tireless dedication of volunteers and patrons like Weisman. Legacy giving better positions HMH to educate the community, preserve the lessons of the Holocaust and instruct the community on how to act as upstanders well into the future. Consider creating your legacy with HMH today. If you are interested in participating or would like more information on planned giving at Holocaust Museum Houston, please contact Charles Williams, major gifts and planned giving officer, at 713-527-1629 or email cwilliams@hmh.org.

In the Memorial Room at Holocaust Museum Houston, standing by the Wall of Hope, Eileen Weisman holds her in-laws’ handwritten Ketubah , their Jewish marriage contract. Sophie and Moses Weisman were married in Stuttgart, Germany, in a displaced persons camp by a rabbi who was also a survivor of the Holocaust. “Their constant presence, whether sharing their stories, artifacts or wisdom gives inspiration to all. And as our survivors age, their voices are not as strong, and many are no longer with us. I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility to ensure we keep their stories alive in some way.” - Eileen Weisman

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