USC Shoah Foundation’s annual gala 1 2 3 4 1 (From left to right) Finance with the Ambassador for executive Mellody Hobson, Humanity award. USC’s 2015 commencement 3 Ivy Schamis, recipient of the speaker; filmmaker and inaugural Stronger Than Hate USC alumnus George Lucas; Educator Award, joins her actress Kate Capshaw; students onstage. USC Interim President Wanda M. Austin; USC 4 Melissa Etheridge trustee and filmmaker performed during the gala. Steven Spielberg; and Rita 5 Wanda M. Austin and Wilson and Tom Hanks, the Oprah Winfrey recipients of the Ambassador for Humanity award. 6 Steven Spielberg with Kate Capshaw and Oprah Winfrey 2 Steven Spielberg presented 5 Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks All photos: Getty Images 6 USC Shoah Foundation Honors Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks at the 2018 Ambassadors for Humanity Gala By Josh Grossberg | November 6, 2018 IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR LONGSTANDING commitment to humanitarian causes and support of veterans, Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks were presented the Ambassador for Humanity Award by Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg, USC trustee and founder of USC Shoah Foundation – The Institute for Visual History and Education. Comedian Martin Short hosted the event, which featured remarks from special guest Oprah Winfrey and a musical performance from Melissa Etheridge. USC Interim President Wanda M. Austin also shared some remarks. Receiving special recognition was Ivy Schamis, who accepted the Institute’s USC Shoah Foundation founder Steven Spielberg and featured guests from the 2018 inaugural Stronger Than Hate Educator Ambassadors for Humanity Gala. Photo: Getty Images Award by USC Shoah Foundation Finci Viterbi Executive Director Stephen named each of the 11 people killed on senseless acts of violence, we see how times Smith. Schamis was teaching her Holocaust Oct. 27 – just nine days before the gala – of tragedy reveal the true character of a studies class at Marjory Stoneman Douglas before asking the audience for a moment community,” she said. “We see that actions on Feb. 14 when a gunman opened fire of silence in their memory. designed to break us apart ultimately bring outside, killing 17 people, including two “Now more than ever before we need us closer together.” students in her classroom. the Shoah Foundation and organizations Smith talked about the newer collections Also honored was a group of aging veterans like the Shoah Foundation to give us the added to the Institute’s Visual History who helped liberate Nazi concentration strength and to give us the life, to combat Archive, which contains 55,000 testimonies camps in Europe at the end of World War II. what those of us who have some sense from survivors and witnesses to the Held at the storied Beverly Hilton Hotel, can see is darkness upon the face of our Holocaust and other genocides. the evening was produced by June Beallor, earth,” Winfrey said. “Racism, antisemitism, “This year we have over 70 people who a Founding Executive Director of USC Islamophobia, homophobia, tribalism – have experienced the full force of antisemitic Shoah Foundation. Beallor established they are all alive, but do nothing for our hate in our world,” he said, referring to the the Ambassadors event for the Institute human kind. So we are here tonight to Institute’s new Countering Antisemisitm in 2000 and has produced every year since recognize, and to also celebrate those collection. “We also recorded testimonies its inception. individuals who embody the foundation’s of the Rohingya, whose lives have been Offering thoughts in turn somber and core values.” destroyed by genocidal violence right in uplifting – and even humorous – speakers Speaking next, Austin, who said the front of our eyes. This battle is far from offered their perspective on the work of Institute was an integral part of the over, but we will dig deeper. We will fight the Institute. The recent shooting at the university, offered support for people who this hatred and this ugliness wherever Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh was were impacted by the Pittsburgh shooting. it’s seen with the powerful voice of these referenced often. Speaking first, Winfrey “While we can never make sense of 55,000 testimonies in our archive.” He then introduced 93-year-old Glenn Their will to live, their hope for future are there. Tom and Rita, a dynamic duo Felner, a World War II veteran, who spoke generations and their willingness to in our world of superheroes, just know about his eagerness to enter the war before share their heart-wrenching stories so this: Their superpower is to be human.” he was old enough to enlist. He wound we can learn from them and keep their In accepting his award, Hanks spoke up fighting in the Battle of the Bulge lessons alive is remarkable.” patriotically about the United States and helped liberate the Buchenwald Schamis then talked about how she Constitution and its promise of a more concentration camp. planned to dissuade the perpetrator from perfect union. “When we broke open the gates, we were killing more people in her classroom. She “Rita and I are so honored to be included confronted with death and destruction never got the chance because he didn’t in the hard work that the Shoah Foundation inside,” he said. “People were still alive, enter the room. does, in the divine mission that it has set but mere skeletons in striped uniforms. In “I was thinking about what to say itself out on and made it real, and in the broken Yiddish, I could talk with some of should he enter the room,” she said. “I good fight that we are all here in order to the survivors. I felt proud I could be part was going to tell him, ‘We love you,’ continue on,” he said. “Let us remain allies of their liberation from certain death at because I knew it must be someone in that good fight and let us say thank the hands of their Nazi captors.” who had so much hate in his heart and you so much for this night of attention.” Smith then introduced Aalayah maybe he wouldn’t shoot any more if Wilson lauded the survivors who gave Eastmond, a student in Schamis’s class at he thought we loved him.” their testimonies and thanked them for Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, After a performance by Etheridge, who using their stories to teach the important who recounted in detail the harrowing sang a song called “Pulse,” about the 2016 lessons of empathy and respect. ordeal she and her fellow students endured shooting at a Florida nightclub, and a “In its ongoing work, USC Shoah during the school shooting. searing rendition of the Janis Joplin hit Foundation tells us what is happening,” “We are learning to rise above adversity “Piece of My Heart,” Spielberg then took she said. “In 2018, is there any better way to thanks to IWitness and Mrs. Schamis,” the stage to present Wilson and Hanks invest time and treasure than in connecting she said. “Can we eradicate hate? Through with the Ambassador for Humanity the events of then with the headlines of this experience and guidance from our Award. He noted many of the causes now? We accept ignorance at our peril teacher, we learned that we can. Together undertaken by the couple, including and to rationalize is to reap the wind. To we are stronger than hate.” veterans affairs, space exploration and stand still in the presence of intolerance Smith then brought Schamis to the advocates for cancer patients. is to reap the whirlwind.” podium to present her with the Stronger He began his remarks by quoting Anne While many tears were shed during the Than Hate Award. Frank, who wrote in her diary that “‘I keep evening, there was also time for laugther. “There is no one more deserving of this my ideals because in spite of everything, Martin Short was in high form as he teased award than Ivy Schamis,” he said. “Not I believe that people are good at heart.’” the dignitaries at the head table. only is she an excellent educator, she is a “Hope,” he continued. “This is our “This is the highest honor Tom has ever humanitarian, a counselor, a cheerleader, greatest power. It is one embodied by received,” he said, adding, “on a Monday a stateswoman, a motivational speaker our Ambassadors for Humanity, tonight’s night.” and a leader all rolled into one.” honorees, a man and woman who are The Ambassadors for Humanity event As she entered, Schamis greeted a group helping to solve some of today’s greatest is a crucial part of the Institute’s efforts, of about 12 of her students who were on riddles, like where is the commonality in helping to forge partnerships that sustain the stage. Schamis said that survivors conversation? How do we speak to each the organization into the future. The gala of the Holocaust are heroes for sharing other when we seemingly have nothing raises much-needed general funds to their stories. we agree on? The Shoah Foundation is support its educational programs, including “For years, I was in awe of Holocaust one of these answers.” expansion of the Institute’s award-winning survivors,” she said. “I tried and could not He then thanked Wilson and Hanks IWitness website, professional development fathom what they have been through. for their dedication to the Institute. for educators globally, the Center for Every survivor had a unique experience “They have been on this journey with Advanced Genocide Research, academic and so many suffered loss beyond Kate and I from Step One,” he said. “And conferences, expanding access to the imagination.