Elie Wiesel once said, “The opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it is indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it is indifference. Because of indifference, one dies before one actually dies.”
The Anne Frank Humanitarian Award, established in 2001, honors outstanding humanitarian efforts by high school juniors in public and private schools in Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, Sarasota, and Manatee counties.
Principals and guidance counselors recommend students for this prestigious award who have made a conscious decision to better the lives of other individuals or groups both inside and outside of school activities.
These students are recognized both at their schools as well as at the Museum. Legislators, educators, family and friends are invited to join the Museum in honoring these students at the receptions.
The Florida Holocaust Museum’s award has the endorsement of the Anne Frank House in New York. Some of the 2014 honorees from Hillsborough and Pasco counties and guest speaker Sophia T. Wisniewska, Regional Chancellor of University of South Florida St Petersburg are pictured on the right. Gayle Sierens, the Co-anchor for WFLA Channel 8, has served as the Honorary Co-chair for the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award program since its inception in 2001. Ms. Sierens is pictured with Loana Zanchi from HB Plant High School.
Anne Frank Humanitarian Award Committee
Honorary Co-Chair: Gayle Sierens
Founder: Irene Weiss
Nancy Greenberg, Nancy Paikoff, Lisl Schick, Jody Sherman
Co-Chairs: Meral Ginsberg and Vicki Weissman
Corky Arkovich, Cindy Armstrong, Nathaniel Doliner,
Etta Donnell, Jen Doscher, Susan Glickman, Harry Heuman,
Angela Ogden, Stacy Paree, Aakash Patel, Brendon Rennert,
Mary Rhinehardt, Rose Rosen, Hillary Rosenberg,
Amanda Saft, Susan Scott, Michele Shapiro, Jeanette Sosa,
Debbie Steinfeld, Joyce Tawil, Robin Winkler
Co-Chairs: Rhoda Langstein and Brandy Gold
Jackie Albin, Hope Buksam, Carol Hess, Bonnie Miele, Nancy Paikoff
Co-Chairs: Jenny Alexander and Kathy Madow
Barbara Baccari, Marcy Daniels, Dr. Bruce Epstein,
Elizabeth Gelman, Elana Gootson, Lisa Harris,
Maria Johnston, Jackie Kanner, Maxine Kaufman,
Debbie Lieberman, Nancy Maza, Sue Rosenbluth,
Debbie Rothberg, Lisl Schick, Abby Sterensis, Robin Warren
Co-Chairs: Shirley Stepp and Rose Holloway
Susan Kilman, Mary H. Northrup, Danielle Smotkin
For information on the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award program, please contact Kelly Oliva by email or call (727) 820-0100 ext. 250.
Support the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award program
Anne Frank Humanitarian Award recipients each receive a Florida Holocaust Museum Family Membership and two guest passes. Family Memberships are valued at $85, and guest passes are valued at $32.
If you would like to support the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award program by underwriting a Family Membership or guest passes for AFHA recipients, please visit the Donate Now page. Select the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award program under the “Special Request for Donation” drop down menu.
Thank you for your support.
