PRESIDENT OBAMA HONORED AT SPIELBERG'S SHOAH FOUNDATION GALA
NBC, Southern California
May 8 2014
The USC Shoah Foundation documents and archives the stories of
survivors and witnesses to the Holocaust and other genocides, such
as the one in Armenia and Rwanda.
By Samia Khan and Beverly White
President Barack Obama was recognized for his global efforts to
protect human rights at a gala event hosted by director Steven
Spielberg Wednesday night.
The USC Shoah Foundation, founded by Spielberg, honored President
Obama with the Ambassador for Humanity Award at the 20th Anniversary
Ambassadors for Humanity Gala at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century
City.
Fundraisers, Speech on President's CA Itinerary
"I think about young girls in Nigeria, or children caught up in the
conflict in Syria," President Obama said during his speech. "I think
drop by drop by drop, that we can erode and wear down these forces
that are so destructive, that tell a different story."
The USC Shoah Foundation documents and archives the video testimonies
of survivors and witnesses to the Holocaust and other genocides,
such as the one in Armenia and Rwanda. Some of those survivors were
in attendance at Wednesday night's gala.
"Every day that you have lived, every child and grandchild that your
families have brought into this world, have served as the ultimate
rebuke to evil and the ultimate expression of love and hope," President
Obama said.
The USC Shoah Foundation was founded by Spielberg after he completed
the the film, "Schindler's List." Since it's founding, more than
50,000 personal accounts of survival have been documented.
"As long as we fail to learn, our work will be urgent work," Spielberg
said at the event.
The star-studded evening opened up with remarks by Liam Neeson, the
actor who portrayed Oskar Schindler in the film. Bruce Springsteen
performed and the event itself was hosted by Conan O'Brien.
"The President's recent appointment of the first special envoy for
Holocaust Survivor Services in United States history demonstrates
his staunch commitment to honoring the past while building a better
future," Spielberg said in the a statement.
Before speaking at the USC Shoah Foundation gala Wednesday night,
President Obama attended a campaign fundraiser at the Bel Air home
of Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn.
The President was expected to stay overnight on the Westside before
traveling to San Diego for another Congressional fundraiser Thursday.
Wednesday's visit was President Obama's 17th visit to Los Angeles
since taking office in 2009.
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/President-Barack-Obama-Honored-at-Steven-Spielbergs-Shoah-Foundation-Gala-258434631.html
NBC, Southern California
May 8 2014
The USC Shoah Foundation documents and archives the stories of
survivors and witnesses to the Holocaust and other genocides, such
as the one in Armenia and Rwanda.
By Samia Khan and Beverly White
President Barack Obama was recognized for his global efforts to
protect human rights at a gala event hosted by director Steven
Spielberg Wednesday night.
The USC Shoah Foundation, founded by Spielberg, honored President
Obama with the Ambassador for Humanity Award at the 20th Anniversary
Ambassadors for Humanity Gala at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century
City.
Fundraisers, Speech on President's CA Itinerary
"I think about young girls in Nigeria, or children caught up in the
conflict in Syria," President Obama said during his speech. "I think
drop by drop by drop, that we can erode and wear down these forces
that are so destructive, that tell a different story."
The USC Shoah Foundation documents and archives the video testimonies
of survivors and witnesses to the Holocaust and other genocides,
such as the one in Armenia and Rwanda. Some of those survivors were
in attendance at Wednesday night's gala.
"Every day that you have lived, every child and grandchild that your
families have brought into this world, have served as the ultimate
rebuke to evil and the ultimate expression of love and hope," President
Obama said.
The USC Shoah Foundation was founded by Spielberg after he completed
the the film, "Schindler's List." Since it's founding, more than
50,000 personal accounts of survival have been documented.
"As long as we fail to learn, our work will be urgent work," Spielberg
said at the event.
The star-studded evening opened up with remarks by Liam Neeson, the
actor who portrayed Oskar Schindler in the film. Bruce Springsteen
performed and the event itself was hosted by Conan O'Brien.
"The President's recent appointment of the first special envoy for
Holocaust Survivor Services in United States history demonstrates
his staunch commitment to honoring the past while building a better
future," Spielberg said in the a statement.
Before speaking at the USC Shoah Foundation gala Wednesday night,
President Obama attended a campaign fundraiser at the Bel Air home
of Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn.
The President was expected to stay overnight on the Westside before
traveling to San Diego for another Congressional fundraiser Thursday.
Wednesday's visit was President Obama's 17th visit to Los Angeles
since taking office in 2009.
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/President-Barack-Obama-Honored-at-Steven-Spielbergs-Shoah-Foundation-Gala-258434631.html