The Charlotte Jewish News- September 2025- Page 36
The Impact of the North Carolina Holocaust Foundation
By Fred Valfer, NC Holocaust Council and Foundation Member
Why am I always talking about the Holocaust Foundation and the Holocaust Council of North Carolina? Beyond my role as a member of both organizations, I want to share recent accomplishments and preview what you can expect in upcoming columns.
Benefits to the State of North Carolina
The North Carolina Holocaust Foundation is a vital institution committed to preserving the memory of the Holocaust, promoting education, and fostering a more inclusive and informed society. Its work brings far-reaching benefits to both the North Carolina Council on the Holocaust( often referred to as the NC Council) and the broader public.
The NC Council serves as the state’ s primary body for Holocaust education, curriculum development, and teacher training. Closely allied with the Council, the Foundation functions as its fundraising arm and plays a crucial role in supporting its mission and initiatives. Key contributions include:
• Financial support: The Foundation raises funds through donations, grants, and events, enabling the Council to expand programming beyond what state allocations allow. These funds support the development of new educational materials aligned with the Gizella Abramson Holocaust Education Act( November 2021), teacher workshops( 21 held this past year, reaching hundreds of educators), and student programs( including 57 survivor or second- and third-generation speaker engagements during the 2024 – 2025 school year). Foundation support also contributed to the Women’ s Holocaust Memorial sculpture,“ The Women of the Shoah: She Wouldn’ t Take Off Her Boots,” located in LeBauer Park in Greensboro, N. C.
• Resource development: By funding the creation of lesson plans, classroom sets, and curated exhibits, the Foundation enables the Council to reach more educators and students. In the past year alone, 160 public schools received traveling exhibits and more than 750 books were distributed.
• Event sponsorship: The Foundation sponsors lectures, commemorations, film screenings, and speaker series— many organized or co-hosted by the Council— deepening public engagement and keeping Holocaust memory alive.
• Scholarship programs: Scholarships funded by the Foundation allow teachers to attend national and international Holocaust education seminars. In summer 2024, 35 educators attended the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum( USH- MM) program, and 38 participated in a two-week study trip to Poland, bringing invaluable insights back to their classrooms.
• Networking and partnerships: As a nonprofit, the Foundation can collaborate with organizations, donors, and cultural institutions worldwide— bringing in resources that enhance the Council’ s programs and outreach. The Council also shares a quarterly newsletter with more than 4,000 educators and legislators.
Beyond its direct support of the Council, the Foundation brings meaningful value to citizens and institutions across the state— advancing education, civic understanding, and cultural resilience.
Enhancing Holocaust and Human Rights Education
The Foundation’ s investment in curriculum development and teacher training ensures Holocaust education is accessible and impactful throughout North Carolina. These efforts honor victims and survivors while serving as a powerful tool for combating hate and injustice.
Holocaust education fosters empathy, critical thinking, and moral courage. Students learn to recognize prejudice and to stand up against injustice in their own communities. With the Foundation’ s support, the Council connects with students across all 100 North Carolina counties nearly every year, including in urban, suburban, and rural areas.
Fostering Community Engagement and Resilience
Public programs— such as survivor testimonies, remembrance ceremonies, and traveling exhibitions— bring North Carolinians together across lines of difference. These events strengthen understanding among religious, ethnic, and cultural communities, encouraging a shared commitment to human rights and mutual respect.
The Foundation’ s work is especially vital amid rising hate crimes and antisemitism. By keeping Holocaust memory visible, it helps inoculate communities against bigotry. In recent years, the Foundation has supported two significant legislative efforts:
• The“ Shalom Act”( 2023): This bill sought to affirm
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The Hebrew Cemetery joins with the community in remembering the names of those who have been buried in the cemetery in the month of August, 2025
Daisy Shapiro-Reike 5-11-1937- 5-28-2025
Varda Fish 8-14-1943- 7-26-2025
Lee Kritzer 1-17-2023- 7-30-2025