MAITLAND, Fl. (October 10, 2025) — The Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida (HMREC) announced it had raised over $1m in philanthropic commitments of $150K or more in 2025, marking unprecedented organizational momentum and setting the stage for transformative years ahead. These crucial gifts, to fund annual operations and innovations, reflect confidence in the Center’s strategic direction and long-term impact. New investments in 2025 included:

• A $320,000 grant from the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation will fund critical areas that support significant growth, including strategy, leadership development, and strong internal systems. This grant type is rare and highly sought after in the nonprofit space.

• A $150,000 grant from Dr. Phillips Charities will be used for innovative exhibit development, particularly the Center’s new demonstration exhibit for the Holocaust Museum for Hope & Humanity.

• A $200,000 gift from the Leonard and Marjorie Williams Family Foundation for piloting augmented reality storytelling technology, the first to be used in any Holocaust museum worldwide.

• A matching grant commitment from Orange County’s Cultural Tourism grant program, funded by the Tourist Development Tax, $175,000 toward exhibits and marketing to attract out-of-town visitors.

• In addition, the organization received a legacy bequest of just under $200,000 from the estate of Howard Kichler, a longtime donor and friend of the Center. He lost numerous family members in the Holocaust and made 126 separate donations to HMREC during his lifetime.

“These extraordinary investments during 2025 from such discerning partners affirm our belief that the Holocaust Center’s mission, after more than 40 years in the community, is more relevant than ever,” said Ron Schirtzer, President of the Board of HMREC. He added, “In this moment of global uncertainty and rising antisemitism, the Center is strengthening the tools and stories needed to preserve memory and motivate future generations to act. Our doors are open, free of charge, to every individual, family, teacher, student, and community member seeking connection, learning, and hope.”

With this new funding, the Center will continue to amplify its work inside and beyond its walls.

“We are proud to invest in the vision and people shaping the HMREC’s next chapter,” said David Odahowski of the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation. “These investments strengthen the Center’s capacity to innovate, inspire, and lead for generations to come,” he added.

Sean Williams of the Leonard and Marjorie Williams Family Foundation said, “I came to the Holocaust Center on a field trip with my seventh-grade class many years ago, and I remember it to this day. By adding new technologies to the Center’s exhibits, we hope to give the next generation of students vital tools to address the very real and ongoing issues of hate, bigotry, and prejudice."

As the Center celebrates this new wave of support, leadership quickly underscores the ongoing importance of unrestricted and multi-year gifts.

“Every donor plays a vital role in our success,” said Schirtzer. “While these transformational gifts accelerate our journey, the steady support from the broader community sustains us day in and day out. Our donors are also essential to building a strong foundation for the next phase of our mission’s future.”

The Center continues to expand its statewide reach, delivering educational programs to thousands of students and adults annually, fighting antisemitism and bigotry, and serving as a vital space for remembrance and dialogue. Traveling exhibits, loaned artifacts, cultural exchanges, and online resources extend the global impact, including in places as diverse as Mexico City, Jerusalem, and Poland.