Vote for The FHM in the WEDU Be More Awards!
Sarah Hagerty, Public Relations Intern at The Florida Holocaust Museum
Two of The Florida Holocaust Museum’s volunteers, Martin Borell and Johanna Bromberg, have been nominated in the WEDU Be More Awards, an annual program that “celebrates the human spirit and showcases the best work by nonprofit organizations in West Central Florida and the individuals that support them.” Marty and Johanna were nominated in two separate categories, Be More Entrepreneurial and Be More Involved, respectively, for their outstanding dedication to and involvement with The Florida Holocaust Museum (The FHM).
The Be More Entrepreneurial Engaged Philanthropist Award “recognizes an individual who has distinguished himself or herself in the nonprofit community by engaging entrepreneurial skills and expertise to build or support a successful nonprofit endeavor.” The recipient will be chosen by a panel of judges from the candidates who receive the most online support. As former Board Chair of The Florida Holocaust Museum, Marty Borell was nominated in this category for his generous donation of both time and talent to The FHM. Under Marty’s direction, The FHM achieved financial stability, became one of only three Holocaust museums in North America accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, and gained widespread recognition and respect. Marty also made an effort to mentor incoming Board members by coaching them to take philanthropic community leadership roles. Even after his tenure as a Board member ended, Marty continues to take a role of active involvement in The Florida Holocaust Museum. This past year, Marty connected The FHM with Broadway HD and oversaw the development of an extraordinary evening of Holocaust education through the arts. Marty’s unique ability to engage sponsors raised $30,000 for The Florida Holocaust Museum, while keeping the event free to the public.
The Be More Involved Outspoken Volunteer Award honors a nominee who “lends a unique voice to bring awareness, credence, support, or action” to a particular issue, therefore “making a tremendous impact within an organization in our community.” The award will be chosen by a local media personality from a group of top nominees who receive the most online votes and support. Johanna Bromberg was nominated in this category for her work with The FHM library, which she began in 1994. Johanna started volunteering in the library at its original location in Madeira Beach, when the library consisted only of a few boxes of donated books. Under Johanna’s guidance, the library has grown immensely in the past decades and is now one of the largest libraries for Holocaust and genocide research in the Southeast. As The FHM’s library began its transition into a twenty-first century resource center, Johanna has been an invaluable and enthusiastic supporter of this technology-heavy transition. As part of her work with the library, Johanna curates a section of books and other resources related to current exhibits at the museum, such as her section last fall which featured books about the Civil Rights Movement to complement the exhibitions This Light of Ours and Beaches, Benches, and Boycotts.
Please join The Florida Holocaust Museum in honoring and congratulating these outstanding volunteers, and don’t forget to vote – you can vote once per 24 hours (per category) from now until Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at noon, through the following links:
Be More Entrepreneurial: Martin Borell
http://www.wedu.org/bemore/entrepreneurial/#vote
Be More Involved: Johanna Bromberg