2023 Risa K. Lambert Chicago Luncheon

On September 11, the Chicago community gathered to mark the Museum’s 30th anniversary—and affirm their support for our mission to ensure the truth and relevance of the Holocaust for new generations worldwide. We must continue accelerating our efforts far beyond the Museum’s walls, as antisemitism is on the rise and conspiracy theories and misuse of Holocaust history are taking hold. Watch the event below and learn more about the Museum’s new Beyond Our Walls Fund.

Featured Guests

Honorees

Pictured: Bill Friend, Linda Levinson Friend, Elaine Levinson, Nina (daughter of Bill and Linda), and Don Levinson
Elaine and Don Levinson
The Levinsons have been dedicated supporters of the Museum for more than 30 years. Elaine was a founding member of the inaugural Risa K. Lambert Chicago Luncheon, serving as co-chair in 1996, 1997, and 1998 and chair in 1999.
Don acquired Trabert & Hoeffer Jewels in Chicago in 1968. Their four children live in Chicago, and they are blessed with 11 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and another one expected in August.
Linda Levinson Friend and Bill Friend
Linda and Bill have been involved with the Museum for more than 25 years. They served as Chicago Luncheon chairs in 2016 and twice as vice chairs. They are also founding members of the Next Generation Board.
Linda is the founder of Big.Fat.Cookie and previously, Linda Levinson Designs. She graduated with a BA degree from Tulane University. Bill is the founder and managing partner of Core Capital Management and co-founder of Aiperion. Bill, who holds an MBA from Harvard University and a BA degree from Tufts University, serves on the advisory board of the Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy Research at Stanford University. He is also a trustee and incoming chair of the Investment Committee of the Rush University Medical Center; a board and Executive Committee member, former treasurer, and chair of the Finance, Audit, and Investment Committees of Start Early; and an Investment Committee member of the Francis W. Parker School. Linda and Bill reside in Lincoln Park and have three children who live in New York City.

Speakers

Ruth Cohen
Holocaust survivor and Museum volunteer
Ruth Cohen was born on April 26, 1930, to Herman and Bertha Friedman in Mukachevo, Czechoslovakia. She had an older sister, Teresa, and a younger brother, Aharon. In 1938, Ruth’s hometown became part of neighboring Hungary, an ally of Nazi Germany. Laws were imposed that put restrictions on the country’s Jewish population.
In March 1944, Ruth and her family were forced into a ghetto. The following month, they were made to board cattle cars destined for Auschwitz. Upon arrival, Ruth, her sister, and their father were selected for forced labor. Although she did not know it at the time, Ruth's mother and brother were sent to the crematorium. Ruth and Teresa were sent to concentration camps, first in Germany, then in Czechoslovakia before being liberated by the United States Army in spring 1945. The two sisters made their way back home, where they reunited with their father. The family immigrated to the United States in 1948 and settled in New York City.
Ruth is a volunteer with the Museum’s Rubenstein National Institute for Holocaust Documentation translating documents and other materials and also speaks to visitors about her Holocaust experiences.
Robert Satloff
Segal Executive Director, Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Dr. Robert Satloff is the vice chair of the Museum’s Committee on Holocaust Denial and State-Sponsored Antisemitism. An expert on Arab and Islamic politics as well as US Middle East policy, Robert has written and spoken widely on the Arab-Israeli peace process, the challenge of Political Islam, and the need to revamp US public diplomacy in the Middle East.
Soon after the September 11 attacks, Robert and his family moved to Rabat, capital of Morocco. During his time abroad, Robert’s personal research focused on unearthing stories of Arab “heroes” and “villains” of the Holocaust, drawing on archives, interviews, and site visits in 11 countries on four continents. His discoveries are the subject of his bestselling book, Among the Righteous: Lost Stories of the Holocaust's Long Reach into Arab Lands. In 2010, PBS aired a one-hour documentary, hosted by Robert and produced with MacNeil-Lehrer Productions, based on Among the Righteous.

Event Leadership

Event Chairs

Dr. Suzanne and Lee Miller
Dr. Suzanne and Lee Miller have been active Museum supporters who have hosted a fundraising event at their home, traveled with a Museum delegation to Rwanda, and previously served as the vice chairs of the Chicago Luncheon.
Sue is a licensed clinical psychologist and a licensed school psychologist, who currently has a private psychotherapy practice for children, adolescents, and adults in Northbrook, Illinois. Sue has participated on the board of directors of the Organization of Rehabilitation and Training and Second Sense, a nonprofit that provides services for visually impaired clients. She has also been a consultant for North Kenwood Charter School and on the educational council for Christopher House. In addition, Sue has been a co-chair of the Vanguard Dinner for the Jewish United Fund and a participant in the Prime Minister’s Mission for the Jewish United Fund.
Lee is currently on the board of directors and an operating partner at Abundant Venture Partners and is the past chair of DLA Piper LLP (US) and a former member of the DLA Piper Global Board and the US Executive Committee. Lee also serves on the boards for Workstorm, Sinai Health System, ARC Chicago, Georgetown University Law School, and the Jewish Federation. In honor of his leadership and public service, Lee has been awarded The Learned Hand Award by the American Jewish Committee and the Simon Rifkin Award.
The Millers reside in Chicago. They have two daughters, who are also therapists.
Photo: Lynn Renee Photography

Vice Chairs

Sandi and Barry Hartstein Sharon and Eric Langshur Liz and Gary Levin Marci and Keith Shapiro Ellen Wallace and Steve Gould

Program Agenda

Event Schedule

11 a.m. Registration opens

11:30 a.m. Ballroom opens for seating and lunch

Noon: Program begins

Parking And Transportation Information For The Hilton Chicago

Michigan Avenue Main Entrance (Ride shares and drop-offs) 720 S Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60605 Balbo Porte Cochere (Valet and self-park entrance) 58 E Balbo Drive, Chicago, IL 60605 $49/Valet parking $33/Self parking Alternate Self-Park Entrance 721 S Wabash, Chicago, IL 60605

Event Sponsors

Gifts as of September 5, 2023

$300,000 or more

The Crown and Goodman Families

$100,000–$299,999

Anonymous Bluhm Family Charitable Foundation Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation Judy and Abel Friedman The Herr family in memory of Jeffrey Herr Karkomi Family Fund Ann Wolk Krouse, in memory of Paul C. Krouse and Amy Krouse Rosenthal The Michael P. Polsky Family Zell Family Foundation

$50,000–$99,999

The Lester and Edward Anixter Family Foundation Carylon Foundation DLA Piper US LLP GCM Grosvenor Harris Family Foundation—Linda and Bill Friend, Pam Szokol, Caryn and King Harris, Stephanie and John Harris Carol and Ed Kaplan Kovler Family Foundation Elaine and Donald Levinson Dr. Suzanne and Lee Miller The Perlman Family Foundation founded by Anita and Louis Perlman Cari and Michael J. Sacks Jamie Diamond Schwartz and David Schwartz Sidley Austin Foundation Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation Fern and Manfred Steinfeld, Michael Steinfeld Family, Paul Steinfeld Family, Jill and Tim Cunniff Family Kathy Hess Tallering and Ken Tallering Christine and Arthur Zygielbaum

$30,000–$49,999

Abt Family Foundation Rebecca and Dmitry Balyasny Katie and J.R. Berger Rita and Seymour Cohen Hecktman Family Foundation LBL Education Fund Lauren and Todd Lustbader Jill and Paul Meister The Schwartz Family and Schwartz Capital Group Kim and Perry Shwachman Karyn and Bill Silverstein Ellen B. Wallace and Steven A. Gould, M.D. Tina and Joseph Wolf Janna and Sheffield Wolk

$25,000–$29,999

Leadership Circle (gifts of $25,000+) Anonymous Robert and Leslie Mitchel Bond Jacolyn and John Bucksbaum Loren and Howard Friend Laurie and Phillip Gerber Diane and Hal Gershowitz, Lisa and Larry Kite, Barbara and Daniel Kite, Jill and Bill Friedman, Amy and Andy Lask, Jennifer and Michael Gershowitz Families Danielle Rudas Goodman and Jordan Goodman Sheila and Joseph Gutman and Family Carol and Bill Kaplan/Senior Lifestyle Jill and Jory Katlin Priscilla and Steven Kersten Jules and Gwen Knapp Charitable Foundation Risa, Harvey, Susan, Ronald, and Dana Lambert Family Robert R. Nathan Philanthropic Fund In loving memory of Michael Perlow—From the Perlow Family Elise Sacks, in loving memory of Lee Sacks Takiff Family Foundation

$15,000–$24,999

Abundant Venture Partners and AVIA Blitstein Family Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Norman Bobins, The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation Cheryl Kraff Cooper and Carey Cooper Denise and Scott Davis Chrysti, David, Myrna and Louie Eigenberg EMA Electromechanics, Inc. Dr. Carolyn Friend-Weiner and Dr. James Weiner Sari Gluckin and Lance Friedmann Greenberg Traurig Dianne and Bruce Grossman Linda and Jeff Hammes Michelle and Corey Harris Stephanie and John Harris Barry and Sandi Hartstein Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation Lindsay and Gregg Kaplan Family Beth and Mark Kaufmann Andrea Kott and Mark Levine Bernard and Helen Kozloff Family Foundation, Denise Kozloff and David Gross, Dr. Mark Kozloff and Gale Kozloff, Dana and Craig Sanders Lori and Ross Laser Fifi and Ron Levin/Barbara and Ira Eichner Jodi and Paul Loeb and Family Loop Capital Rabbi Steven Stark Lowenstein and Julie Stark Carol Maxon Merrill Lynch Private Wealth Management—The Baldwin Marcovici Group Andy and Nancy Mills Sylvia Neil and Dan Fischel Richard and Karen Reisin Cathy and Mark Robbins Jason B. Rosenthal and Family—In Memory of Amy Krouse Rosenthal Jill and Rob Selati Charles and M. R. Shapiro Foundation Marci and Keith Shapiro Valerie and Lee Shapiro Family Rachel and David Sternberg Alice and Jordan Trafimow Tucker Family Foundation Richard and Diane Weinberg Emily Sachs Wong and Thad Wong

Media Sponsors

All Sponsors