Looking for an exciting way to jazz up your week and help make a difference in the process? Join the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center for the first, (and hopefully last!) Virtual Soirée on Wednesday, September 2nd at 7 pm. Featuring a star-studded line-up of celebrity guests and performers, this special evening will give guests the chance to rub virtual shoulders with the stars. Click here to learn more.
Hear from Katie Couric about her connection to the North Shore and Sharon Stone about her personal relationship with the Illinois Holocaust Museum. There will even be some surprise appearances you won’t want to miss. The event also will include a special message from Holocaust Survivor and Museum President, Fritzie Fritzshall.
Hosted by Illinois Holocaust Museum’s Women’s Leadership Committee and emceed by media personality and social columnist Candace Jordan (Candace Jordan Event Promo Video) ), the event will stream live with musical performances by Katie Kadan, (Katie Kadan Event Promo Video) a finalist on The Voice (December 2019).
Candace Jordan visited the museum last week and described it in two words: profoundly moving. The virtual event will also include Jordan’s interview with Illinois Holocaust Museum CEO, Susan Abrams.
“With racism and antisemitism on the rise, connecting the lessons of the Holocaust to present day is more urgent than ever,” says Abrams. “While the Museum is focused on education and awareness, social events such as the Soirée are another way to work toward our mission.”
WLC President Juliet Gray shares her enthusiasm for this year’s event as a way to extend the museum’s essential fundraising efforts, despite the limitations imposed by the pandemic. “While we are sad that we cannot gather in person this year, we are excited to take the event virtual and feel it is the best way to continue raising funds to support the Museum’s important work,” says Gray. The event is free to all, but a donation of $200 is recommended. Register here.
Watch a clip from the event here:
https://vimeo.com/447954745/22f8b61afc
As if the night’s star power weren’t enough, there is also a raffle with some amazing prizes, including:
- Old Rip Van Winkle Whiskey
- $1,000 gift card to Chicago Cut
- iPad Air
- Peloton Indoor high-end bike
The raffle drawing will take place during the Soirée and winners will be announced live on air toward the end of the broadcast. Raffle ticket prices are as follows and can be purchased here.
- 1 ticket for $50
- 3 tickets for $100
- 7 tickets for $200
- 20 tickets for $500
The annual benefit raises funds to support the museum’s mission to combat hatred, prejudice, and indifference, and to inspire visitors to become Upstanders who speak out for what’s right — turning powerful lessons of history into positive actions today. The WLC specifically earmarked funds from this event to support upcoming special exhibitions, field trips to the museum (virtual and in-person) for students in under-served communities, Law Enforcement Action and Democracy (LEAD) Training, and educational programs for college students.
The Women’s Leadership Committee (WLC) was formed 11 years ago with the goal of increasing awareness for the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center. The Committee provides fundraising support to the museum with a focus on educational programming. Past sponsored events include book and author discussions, film screenings, private exhibition openings, art discussions, and more. The Soirée is the signature fundraising event for the WLC. For more information, please call 847-967-4821.
