2026 White Rose Tribute
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
Steinmetz Hall at The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
COMING SOON
2026 Honoree: Bruce Gould
The White Rose Tribute Event, now in its 38th year, is a cornerstone of the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida’s mission to build a just and caring community free from antisemitism, prejudice, and bigotry. This annual event celebrates visionary leaders whose actions and commitments reflect the principles of inclusivity, respect, and moral courage exemplified by the White Rose resistance group—a student-led movement that opposed Nazi tyranny during World War II.
Named in honor of the Center’s founder, the Tess Wise White Rose Award recognizes individuals and organizations whose dedication to justice and equality actively contributes to building a society free from all forms of hate. Honorees embody the Center’s mission by promoting education and fostering unity and understanding in Central Florida.
Proceeds from the event directly support the Holocaust Center’s educational and memory-keeping initiatives, which use the lessons of the Holocaust to inspire people of all ages to stand against hate, challenge prejudice, and create a more inclusive world. Through this tribute, we honor the past while empowering future generations to shape a brighter future.
2026 Honoree, Bruce Gould
About Bruce
Mr. Gould was a principal in Gould Publications Inc.; a family-owned publishing business, started in 1953 specializing in law books and treatises for the legal and law enforcement community. The business, when it was sold in 2004 was one of the leading statutory law book publishers in the country.
Mr. Gould received a Juris Doctor degree from Touro University Law Center in 1984. He received a Bachelor of Arts in 1981 and a Masters of Legal Letters in 1993 from New York University. Mr. Gould serves on a number of charitable and philanthropic organizations and boards including the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center and Shalom Orlando.
He is Chairman of the Touro University’s Board of Governors and chaired the law school’s Capital campaign committee. Mr. Gould and his family gave the lead gift for the “Gould Law Library” at the law center in Central Islip. He also endowed the law center’s first faculty chair, The Bruce K. Gould Distinguished Professor of Law and has a book award presented annually for the past 35 years in his honor. Some of the past recipients of the award include: The Honorable Sandra Day O’Connor, The Honorable Sonya Sotomayor, Ambassador Michael Oren, Bob Woodward, and John Grisham. He and his family’s love and support of education is exemplified through the creation of naming gifts and centers at New York University, the University of Central Florida, Adventist University, Seminole State College and Touro University.
His passion for education and helping students achieve their goal is manifest in the creation of numerous scholarships for nursing and health care providers in local community and state colleges around Florida. Mr. Gould has been an ardent supporter of Israel throughout his adult life and has supported many organization that help make Israel a better place. He has endowed an amphitheater at Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem. He is currently working on a steering committee and serves as chairman of the capital campaign to build a new Holocaust Museum of Hope and Humanity in Florida. Bruce served for 4 years as the Educational Foundation Chair of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and now serves as Vice Chair of the Chamber. He is the producer of the award-winning documentary “Upheaval”, the life and time of Prime Minister Menachem Begin. He is the executive producer of the new documentary “Centered” on the life of late Senator Joseph Liberman released in October 2024.
Bruce is an avid long distance bike rider – traveling over 300 miles to raise money and awareness for the environment in Israel and raised millions of dollars to help eradicate diabetes for the American Diabetes Association through the Tour De Cure. Bruce loves to exercise, travel, and give back to his community. He is a resident of Orlando and Miami Beach, Florida.
Event Details
Location
Steinmetz Hall at The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
445 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando, FL 32801
Date & Time
Wednesday
November 4, 2026
Time is TBD
Co-Chairs
Rhonda Forest and Valeria Shapiro
Tess Wise White Rose Past Honorees
2025 | Mark Brewer and the Central Florida Foundation
2024 | Jonathan & Nancy Wolf
2023 | Tony Jenkins
2022 | Dr. Rita Bornstein
2021 | The Massey Family
2020 | Mayor Jerry L. Demings
2019 | Joanie Holzer Schirm
2018 | Jeffrey Miller & Ted Maines
2017 | Mayor Buddy Dyer
2016 | Valeria & Jim Shapiro
2015 | Susan & Gordon Arkin
2014 | Harris Rosen
2013 | Helen Greenspun
2012 | Dr. Richard Lapchick
2011 | Dr. Ron Blocker
2010 | Governor Bob Graham
2009 | Rita & John Lowndes
2008 | Alexis & Jim Pugh
2007 | Harriett & Hy Lake
2006 | Tess & Abe Wise2005 | Marilyn & Sig Goldman
2004 | Suntrust Bank, Central Florida
2003 | Judy Albertson
2002 | Joe R. Lee
2001 | Elie Wiesel
2000 | 20 Year Anniversary Celebration – Dreamers
1999 | Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation
1998 | Holocaust Survivors
1997 | Henri Landwirth & Give Kids The World
1996 | Tom Werner
1995 | University of Central Florida
1994 | Junior League of Greater Orlando
1993 | Commissioner Linda Chapin
1992 | Scholars
1991 | Dr. James Schott
1990 | Dr. Paul C. Gianini
1989 | Charlie Reese2025 Honorees:
Mark Brewer and the Central Florida Foundation
