Holocaust Museum Houston Annual LBJ Moral Courage Award Dinner And Gala Honors Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat

By Rob Giardinelli     Photography by Wilson Parish and Jacob Power

THE SETTING: The Hilton Americas-Houston was the setting for one of the city’s most popular and anticipated spring fundraising events. Over a thousand of the city’s top civic and community leaders, sociables, and philanthropists were on hand for the Holocaust Museum Houston’s annual LBJ Moral Courage Award Dinner.

THE STYLE: The cocktail-attired crowd began the evening with a VIP reception where guests had the opportunity to meet the evening’s featured guests, CNN’s Dana Bash, Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat, and Marion Ein Lewin. Patrons then headed to a larger reception outside the ballroom for a cocktail hour where the attendees mingled before the action moved to the ballroom for the main program. After guests were treated to words from the Holocaust Museum Houston and the event’s leaders, they dined on a multi-course kosher meal. Next, Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat was honored with the annual LBJ Moral Courage award. Following his moving speech, the night was capped off with a conversation moderated by Dana Bash with Eizenstat and his partner and child Holocaust survivor, Marion Ein Lewin. The trio engaged in a moving discussion about Eizenstat’s relationship with LBJ and the hope for a future free of prejudice and hate.

THE PURPOSE: The LBJ Moral Courage Award Dinner, co-chaired by Stephanie and Frank Tsuru, and with Sue Smith serving as honorary chair, raised $1.3 million for Holocaust Museum Houston. Proceeds from the event will go towards the museum’s educational programs.