Holocaust Remembrance Association

For 2023, the primary focus of the Holocaust Remembrance Association (hra18) was education, healing, and reconciliation regarding the complex issues of the Holocaust. Its flagship project continues to be the Holocaust garden of hope, an open-air museum located on the shores of lake houston in kingwood, Texas. Phase one of the garden was completed and open to the public viewing. Attending the opening were influential business leaders, mayor pro-tem, polish and israeli consuls, Holocaust survivors, nazi descendants and the press attended this event which made front page news. The event closed with a celebration of an israeli dance troupe. This jewish, woman-led Holocaust organization is the epitome of the many diversity, equity and inclusion requirements. The upstander stone project, an educational stone-painting project designed to commemorate the 1.5 million children who perished during the Holocaust, expanded geographically in 2023. Over ten thousand students and individuals were impacted as they participated via local school districts across the houston area, church groups, synogogues, small groups and nursing homes. In addition, the march of Remembrance of Texas mobilized two marches in april publicly combatting antisemitism in the streets. One march was hosted at kingwood middle schol and one hosted at sourthern methodist university. Over 300 participants, including five different consul generals from ifferenct natins, attended te march in kingwood, Texas and another 300 participated in dallas, Texas. An hra-18 delegation also participated in the march of the nations in israel in may. Fundraising events for 2023: over 500 people worldwide were mobilized in awareness and funds in febrauary for an online crowdfunding campaign. Hra18 raised approximatley 100,000 within a wo-week period. In march, hra18 hosted the "beauty for ashes" luncheon where approximately 180 guests attended and listened to Holocaust survivor, edith jucker, give her testimoy for the first time. Ten docents were trained to give free tours at the Holocaust garden of hope every sunday afternoon. During 2023 two university education scholarships were awarded to students to encourage and futher their college education. Thankfully, over 400 volunteers donated their time by participating in and supporting hra18 initiatives. The crossover project is the payroll agent for the Holocaust and completes the payroll function on the hra's behalf.