Graham’s sons, David and Alex, to accept the award on his behalf |
January 16, 2019 [St. Petersburg, FL] — The Florida Holocaust Museum (The FHM) is pleased to announce that they will be presenting the Loebenberg Humanitarian Award posthumously to iconic concert promoter Bill Graham, the subject of the current exhibition at the Museum Bill Graham and the Rock & Roll Revolution. The presentation will take place during the Museum’s annual benefit, To Life: Rock, Roll, Remember on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at The Vinoy in downtown St. Petersburg. Graham’s sons, David and Alex, will be accepting the award on his behalf. “As a child refugee orphaned by the Holocaust, our father’s life trajectory sent him fleeing from the fate of malevolence and tyranny, towards the opportunities of peace and self-determination. Experiencing such contrast firsthand compelled him to fortify the sovereignty of others; pioneering an industry in the process. By championing the role that music and togetherness play in the dignity of life, he fostered harmony in the world,” said Alex Graham. “This is a great honor. Our father’s life story certainly offers a template for how to be an agent for good in one’s community. It’s a special feeling to know that this still resonates with people,” said David Graham. Bill Graham is recognized as one of the most influential concert promoters in history. He launched the careers of countless rock & roll legends, conceived rock & roll as a powerful force for supporting humanitarian causes, and was instrumental in the production of milestone benefit concerts. “As a child, his life was saved during the Holocaust through the actions of strangers,” said Elizabeth Gelman, Executive Director of The Florida Holocaust Museum. “He spent his adult life working to help millions of people he never knew.” “Bill taught each of us who had an opportunity to know him and work with him so many things that we still carry with us – the miracle of hard work and having a great deal of fun while doing it, his kindness, his attention to detail in making each event special and the bravery to speak up when something presents itself that ‘needs fixin’. It’s been wonderful for all of us at the Bill Graham Memorial Foundation to see his story and spirit of philanthropy carried forward through the years,” said Bonnie Simmons, Executive Director of the Bill Graham Memorial Foundation. In addition, The FHM will also be presenting the Loebenberg Humanitarian Award toJeffrey K. Cohen, MD. Dr. Cohen is the President of Allegheny General Hospital, the hospital that treated the gunman from the Tree of Life synagogue shooting that occurred in Pittsburgh in October 2018.To Life, will take place on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at The Vinoy. The Vinoy is located at 501 5th Ave NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Tickets to attend To Life are on sale now! To purchase tickets, please visit: www.TheFHM.org/to-life-annual-benefit or call 727.820.0100 ext. 301. For additional program information, please visit: The FHM’s Official To Life Page. About The Florida Holocaust MuseumOne of the largest Holocaust museums in the country, and one of three nationally accredited Holocaust museums, The Florida Holocaust Museum honors the memory of millions of men, women and children who suffered of died in the Holocaust. The FHM is dedicated to teaching members of all races and cultures the inherent worth and dignity of human life in order to prevent future genocides. For additional information, please visit www.TheFHM.org. |