Actor and former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will receive the inaugural “Award of Courage” from the Holocaust Museum LA in honor of his longtime advocacy against antisemitism and bigotry, museum officials announced Thursday.
“The first `Award of Courage’ embodies all the lessons of the Holocaust: The spirit of educating and elevating humanity to fight hate in all forms,” museum CEO Beth Kean said in a statement. “Arnold, by speaking out publicly, embodies our museum’s essence of inspiring humanity through truth.”
Schwarzenegger will receive the honor during the museum’s 15th annual gala Nov. 6 at the Beverly Hills Hotel, emceed by Melissa Rivers.
Museum officials noted that Schwarzenegger, the son of a Nazi, “has publicly spoken out against hate on social media for many years, regularly posting videos and statements to his fans.” Through his USC Schwarzenegger Institute, he recently hosted an on-campus discussion titled “Terminating Hate: Breaking the Cycle of Extremism.”
Also scheduled to be honored during the museum’s gala is Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, vice president of the Annenberg Foundation and founder of GRoW@Annenberg, which financially supports projects and groups “that address social and cultural issues, meets urgent community needs and offers inspiration and collaboration — all with the goal of improving the quality of life in communities around the world.”
Weingarten directed a $1 million gift to the museum’s “Building Truth” campus expansion project, according to the museum.
Also being honored will be Sandra Gerson Kanengiser, board chair and president of the Jack and Goldie Nomberg Foundation, which was endowed by her uncle, Holocaust survivor Jack Nomberg. Kanengiser also directed a $1 million grant from the foundation to the museum to provide free tours for students.