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30th Anniversary Western Region Tribute Event

Thirty years ago, thanks to an unprecedented public-private partnership with the American people, the Museum opened its doors. The survivors fervently believed it would serve as not only a lesson and a warning, but also an inspiration. Together, we have accomplished so much—but we can’t be complacent. While the founders faced a daunting task, ours is no less challenging, and increasingly urgent. Just as we are losing the eyewitnesses, antisemitism is on the rise and conspiracy theories and misuse of the Holocaust are taking hold. Social media and the internet relentlessly amplify their impact.

We must respond to these challenges by ensuring the truth and relevance of the Holocaust for new generations—far beyond our walls. The survivors’ conviction about the power of memory animates a bold vision for our future.

Event Leadership

Co-Chairs

  • Jean and Sandy Colen
    Jean and Sandy Colen

    San Francisco

    Jean and Sandy Colen are actively engaged in many aspects of Jewish life in Northern California, including leadership roles in Hillel International, the Magnes Museum Foundation, and previously with the Jewish Community Federation. Their philanthropy spans nearly four decades of involvement with Jewish organizations locally, nationally, and in Israel. They have two adult children living in Southern California.

  • Debra and Robert Kasirer
    Debra and Robert Kasirer

    Los Angeles

    Debra and Robert Kasirer are the children of Holocaust survivors. Both of their mothers survived Auschwitz, and their fathers were in forced labor camps. They have been actively involved in many Jewish causes over the past 40 years, including leadership roles in Jewish education, Jewish camping, and organizations in Israel. They have four married children who live in Los Angeles and 12 grandchildren, all of whom are enrolled in Jewish day schools.

  • Katie and Amnon Rodan
    Katie and Amnon Rodan

    Oakland, California

    Katie Rodan is co-creator and founder of Rodan & Fields, a multinational skin care company and co-creator of Proactiv Solutions. Katie also has a private dermatology practice in Oakland, California, and is clinical associate professor of dermatology at Stanford University.

    Amnon Rodan is chairman emeritus of Rodan & Fields. Dedicated to increasing national service opportunities in the United States, he serves on the national boards of buildOn and Service Year Alliance. He is also co-president of the Aspen Art Museum.

    Katie and Amnon are the founders and directors of the Rodan Family Foundation, principally dedicated to finding a “cure” for OCD and building a vibrant Jewish community in the San Francisco East Bay. The foundation supports AIPAC, the Washington Institute, the Reut Group, Enter, Hillel, Moishe House, Jews of Color, and many more.

    Katie and Amnon have two children and two grandchildren.

Next Generation Chairs

  • Heather Brooks Karatz and Theodore Karatz
    Heather Brooks Karatz and Theodore Karatz

    Los Angeles

    Heather Brooks Karatz is the executive vice president for growth and operations at United Talent Agency (UTA), a leading, global talent, entertainment, and sports company, where she oversees initiatives to expand its businesses, especially across the sports industry. Prior to joining UTA, Heather served as the president of the XFL’s Los Angeles Wildcats, the executive vice president and general counsel of the Los Angeles Football Club, and the general counsel and SVP of Independent Sports and Entertainment, formerly known as Relativity Sports. Heather also worked as an attorney for the NHL and in the management council of the NFL. She began her legal career as a labor and employment attorney at Hunton & Williams, LLP, a large international law firm.

    Heather earned her law degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 2009 and graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2006 with a BA in Spanish and a minor in philosophy. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband Teddy and their twins, Abe and Joelle.

    Theodore Karatz is a managing director at GTIS Partners LP, a global real estate investment firm headquartered in New York with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Munich, and São Paulo. The firm has $4.7 billion of assets under management, and Mr. Karatz is responsible for sourcing and analyzing investment opportunities across the firm’s active US funds. Since September 2009, GTIS has committed approximately $2.4 billion of equity to the US residential and commercial sector, having invested in 136 projects representing $11 billion in total project costs.

    Mr. Karatz received a BA in communication from the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in real estate development from USC’s Lusk Center for Real Estate. Mr. Karatz is also a trustee of the Millbrook School in Millbrook, New York.

Event Committee

(in formation)

Laurence Baer⬫ Adrienne Bavar⬫ Sonia Breslow⬫ Sheryl Bronkesh⬫ Miriam Burhans⬫ Amy and Andrew Cohn⬫ Sylvie and Mark Deutsch⬫ Judi Gottschalk⬫ Steve and Suzi Hilton⬫ Julee Landau⬫ Sam Lauter⬫ Eddie Lazarus⬫ Eric LeVine⬫ Susan and Bill Levine⬫ Susan and Moses Libitzky Susan Lowenberg⬫ Steve Lyons⬫ Nancy Mishkin⬫ Harvey Motulsky⬫ Deborah Oppenheimer⬫ Connie Ostrovsky and Jerry Gossel⬫ Dana Perlman⬫ Sheryl and Ken Pressberg⬫ Janet and Lenny Rosenblatt⬫ Tony and Linda Rubin⬫ Judy Searle⬫ Dana and Gary Shapiro Jay and Deanie Stein⬫ Daniel Weiss⬫

Western Region Advisors

Event Sponsors

Gifts as of March 16, 2023

30th Anniversary Tribute Sponsor (gifts of $300,000 or more) Moses and Susan Libitzky

Lead Sponsor (gifts of $150,000–$299,999) Kelly and Lou Gonda, Lorena Gonda, and Lucy Gonda Koret Foundation—Dr. Anita Friedman, President, and Jeff Farber, CEO David and Sheryl Wiener

Donors Wall Sponsor (gifts of $50,000–$99,999)  Mim Burhans

30th Anniversary Patron Sponsor (gifts of $30,000–$49,999) Sonia and John Breslow Sylvie and Mark Deutsch Amy and Morton Friedkin Debra and Robert Kasirer ​Dr. Gitta Nagel "The Orden Family"—Martha and Barry Berkett, Judy and Tom Flesh, and Helen and Moshe Sassover Chai Principal Sponsor (gifts of $18,000–$29,999) Anne Bakar and Yossi Zadik Jean and Sandy Colen Memory Lane, Inc. Katie and Amnon Rodan Lydia Shorenstein Melody and Jerry Weintraub

Table Sponsor (gifts of $12,000–$17,999) Kyle Bach and Shelli Semler Children's Hospital Los Angeles Amy and Andrew Cohn Dr. Joel Geiderman Adean Mills Golub Steve and Suzi Hilton Heather Brooks Karatz and Theodore Karatz David and Julie Levine Steve and Cindy Lyons Mideb Nominees, Inc. Dana Perlman and Hugh Kinsellagh & David and Bob Schneiderman Sheryl and Ken Pressberg Robbins Family Foundation Lucille Ellis Simon Foundation Bley Stein Foundation Roselyne Swig

In Memory of the 6,000,000 (gifts of $6,000–$11,999) Joe and Sherry Felson Joseph C. and Esther Foster Foundation The Goodman Family Supporting Foundation Israel 21c Julee Landau and Robert Shahon Frank Lee Lenny and Janet Rosenblatt Gil and Danielle Simon Jacqueline and Stephen Swire

Double Chai Sponsor (gifts of $3,600–$5,999) AIPAC Board Colleagues American Israel Public Affairs Committee Phyllis and David Cook Leslye and Michael Dellar Bunny and Steven Fayne Claudia Felson Miriam Friedkin and Family Judi Gottschalk Susan and Russ Holdstein Betsy and Doug Korn Sam and Stephanie Lauter Michael and Lori Milken Family Foundation Modrall Sperling Roni and Joshua Podell Eileen Ruby Gary and Dana Shapiro Florence Silver and Eric Freeman Deborah and Larry Stadtner Carol and Jac Stulberg Valli B. and Bob Tandler United Talent Agency

Corporate Sponsor

Logo for the Beverly Hills Courier

Media Sponsors

From top to bottom, the logos for Jewish Journal, Jewish Life Now, and The Jewish News of Northern California

Exterior of the Holocaust Memorial Museum at sunset

Thank You to Our National Partners and Donors

Exterior of the Holocaust Memorial Museum at sunset