By Delila Simon, Co-Executive Director Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center,
For our Board of Directors, our staff, our supporters and the many students, teachers, and community members who use our resources to teach the Holocaust, tomorrow will never be the same. With the passing of this year’s state budget, the Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center is now positioned, with a one-year grant, to preserve the legacy of Washington State Holocaust survivors and liberators for future generations.
We owe our success to the many people who worked hard to make our dream a reality. A special thank you goes to Senator Brian Weinstein for making this his top funding priority and working hard to keep the funding in negotiations on the final budget. Special thanks as well go to Senators Ken Jacobson, Ed Murray, Adam Kline, Phil Rockefeller, and Joe McDermott. In the House, we thank Representative Eric Pettigrew for being the champion for our request and Representative Jamie Pedersen for his support.
In the center’s efforts to secure funding, we received support from the Government Affairs Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. The Federation’s Director of Government Affairs, Zach Carstensen, was instrumental in both Seattle and Olympia. He provided direction, contacts and valuable information at every step. We thank the Federation for their continuing support and look forward to a year filled with preservation projects that will support Holocaust education in our region for many years to come.