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U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Honored Gary Jacob & Stacey
Saiontz
During Annual New York Tribute Dinner Raising Over $3.2
Million
NEW YORK, NY (October 30, 2019) — The United
States Holocaust Memorial Museum held its annual “What
You Do Matters” New York Tribute Dinner on October 28 at
Cipriani in New York City raising over $3.2 million in
support of the Museum’s critical role as a living memorial
to the Holocaust.
Sara J. Bloomfield,
the Museum’s director delivered keynote remarks at the
Tribute Dinner and thanked the Museum’s guests for their
support: “Thank you for helping us unlock these powerful
lessons of Holocaust history for people everywhere so that a
new world might learn timely lessons from a past world. So
that wishful thinking might be constantly confronted with
determined resistance. So that today’s bystander might not
become tomorrow’s victim. So that instead of ‘And then they
came for me,’ we might shout, ‘Together we confronted
them.’”
During the benefit event, the Museum presented its National
Leadership Award to Gary Jacob and Stacey
Saiontz. The Museum's National Leadership Award is
presented to outstanding individuals who have made an
exceptional commitment to advance the Museum’s mission of
Holocaust remembrance and education.
Museum chairman Howard M. Lorber presented the
National Leadership Award to Gary Jacob, a prominent New
York real estate industry leader who serves as Executive
Vice-President of Glenwood Management, and has been a key
member of the Museum’s New York Real Estate group since
2011.
During Jacob’s award acceptance speech, he underscored his
unwavering support of the Museum: “When I think about
securing the future, the future we all want for our children
and grandchildren, I think about a world free of hate,
bigotry and discrimination. Unfortunately, we are seeing a
rise in hatred and antisemitism around the world, including
this country. That makes the Museum’s mission of teaching
the lessons of our past history even more of a priority than
ever before.”
New York Tribute Dinner Chair Howard Unger presented
the National Leadership Award to Stacey Saiontz,
granddaughter of Holocaust survivor Jack Feldman, who was
recently featured in the HBO documentary “The
Number on Great Grandpa’s Arm” with Stacey’s
sons, Elliott and Jared. Saiontz is also a founding member
of the Museum’s New York Next Generation Board.
Upon accepting the National Leadership Award, Stacey Saiontz
remarked: “My
grandparents lost all of their siblings, their parents and
their extended families in
the Holocaust. They
lost their homes, their childhood, and their entire world as
they knew it. Yet, they were resilient. After experiencing
the worst humanity had to offer, they still responded with
the best of the human spirit. They chose life. And because
they chose life, I am able to stand before you tonight.
That’s why standing in the Capitol building with four
generations of my family watching my grandfather proudly
light one of the six memorial candles during the National
Days of Remembrance Ceremony was one of the most special
moments of my life. That is why I support the Museum.”
Following Saiontz’ award acceptance remarks, Irene Weiss,
a Museum volunteer who survived Auschwitz-Birkenau and
forced labor as a teenage girl, shared her story which was
especially meaningful just three months ahead of the 75TH anniversary
of the camp’s liberation.
Andi Barchas,
director of the Museum’s Northeast Regional Office, also
addressed the Tribute Dinner guests, sharing how grateful
the Museum is for supporters such as Gary Jacob and Stacey
Saiontz. “I have known both of our honorees for many years,
and we really are so fortunate to have them as part of our
Museum family. Through Gary’s involvement with our Real
Estate division and Stacey’s involvement with
our Next Generation Group and in Westchester, they bring
together a newly expanded group of Museum supporters. Thanks
to their efforts, and the hard work of our chairs, there are
almost 500 people in the room tonight and we have raised
over 3.2 million dollars! Thank you all.”
The New York Tribute Dinner was chaired by Debrah Lee
Charatan, Jeffrey Feil, Lloyd Goldman, Mindy
Nagorsky-Israel and Ronen Israel, and Caryn
and Howard Unger.
About the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States
Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders
worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote
human dignity. Its far-reaching educational programs and
global impact are made possible by generous donors. For more
information, visit www.ushmm.org.
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