Leonard and Sophie Davis Fund of San Francisco Joins Museum’s Pillar of Memory Society

February 11, 2014

WASHINGTON, DC—The Leonard and Sophie Davis Fund recently joined the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Pillars of Memory Society with cumulative gifts to the Museum exceeding $2 million. The fund’s most recent gift supports the International Relations Program and the Campus Outreach Lecture Program at the Museum’s Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies and the Davis Fellowship at the Center for the Prevention of Genocide.

By sponsoring groundbreaking scholarship, the Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies works to increase the productivity and impact of Holocaust studies globally and generate new understanding of how the Holocaust was possible. The Center for the Prevention of Genocide seeks to make genocide prevention a national and international priority by increasing the public’s understanding of how and why genocide and mass atrocities happen, inspiring people to care, and galvanizing policy makers to create the tools and structures needed to avert the next crisis. 

“After a transformative visit to central and eastern Europe, my wife and I felt a new urgency to address the issues of antisemitism and genocide,” said Alan Davis, president of the Leonard and Sophie Davis Fund. “We turned to the one organization that has the capacity to motivate young people to become engaged with the issues, leverage US influence and resources to elevate awareness internationally, and advocate new approaches to prevent genocide in the future. I feel fortunate that we can honor my parents with this gift and hope that our challenge gift will help others contribute to the Museum’s campaign.”

Leonard and Sophie Davis have been active and dedicated supporters of the Museum since its inception. The Leonard and Sophie Davis Fund’s recent gift was in excess of $1 million and sets in motion a series of challenge grants to incentivize an additional $4 million in matching endowment gifts with $1.5 million conditional Davis Fund contributions to follow. When fully realized, a total of $6.5 million will establish two named staff positions to direct the International Relations and Campus Outreach Lecture programs and two Genocide Prevention Fellowships in perpetuity.

“We are most grateful to the Davis family for this generous gift. The Davis family gift helps advance three major Museum priorities for our third decade—new scholarship to enhance our understanding of why the Holocaust happened, a fellowship to help prevent future genocides, and building our international presence,” said Museum Director Sara J. Bloomfield.    

The gift from the Leonard and Sophie Davis Fund supports the Museum’s $540 million campaign, “Never Again. What You Do Matters,” the honorary chair of which is Elie Wiesel. The campaign will expand the Museum’s endowment and allow the Museum to make critical investments to keep Holocaust memory alive and address rising denial, antisemitism, hate, and contemporary genocide. For more information on the campaign, please visit ushmm.org/campaign. 

A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. Its far-reaching educational programs and global impact are made possible by generous donors. For more information, visit ushmm.org.

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