UMD News Releases

Jack and Cindy Seiler, co-chairs of UMD's Baeumler-Kaplan Holocaust Commemoration Endowment Campaign, announce an anonymous gift of $50,000 to the 2004/2005 Endowment Campaign and program.

"The Committee is grateful for the support of this generous donor. Although we do not know the person's name, we wish to thank the supporter for this incredible gift," said the Seilers.

Part of the gift will be used as a matching incentive encouraging others to participate. The committee hopes to build the endowment to $150,000. According to Deborah Petersen-Perlman, Chair of the Committee, "It is definitely the right time to make a gift or pledge to the UMD Baeumler-Kaplan Holocaust Commemoration Endowment Campaign."

The Baeumler-Kaplan Holocaust Commemoration Program was established by Walter Baeumler, Golde and Walter Eldot and Mortrud Kaplan to insure that the lessons of the Holocaust could be disseminated to the public at large, and especially young people, in the Twin Ports area.

An annual program features speakers, films and other educational opportunities. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of this series in 2004, a two-month long art exhibition will be mounted beginning April 13 at UMD's Tweed Museum of Art. Special events the week of April 13th will feature a lecture by noted painter, Samuel Bak, a presentation on Holocaust Memorials by historian Stephen Feinstein, and a Holocaust-themed film. Outreach to area schools includes a workshop for teachers in using art to address the Holocaust and a program called "The 6 Million" involving students in an interactive exercise to begin comprehending the impact of Hitler's extermination campaign.

Gifts to UMD's Baeumler-Kaplan Holocaust Commemoration Fund may be sent to University of Minnesota Duluth Development office at 315 Darland Administration Building, 1049 University Drive, Duluth, MN 55812. Checks should be made out to UMD Baeumler-Kaplan Holocaust Commemoration Fund.