George W. Bush Headlines Holocaust Museum Humanitarian Awards

CHICAGO — The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center hosted the 2022 Humanitarian Awards Dinner this month at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, marking the first time the annual benefit fundraiser has been held in person since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 1,300 guests attended the event, which featured former President George W. Bush as a guest speaker and honored United Airlines, the Duchossois family and Sam Harris, a Holocaust survivor and the museum's president emeritus.

The Humanitarian Award, presented to people and businesses who show they are committed to education about the dangers of hatred and prejudice, was accepted by United Airlines Chief Financial Officer Gerry Laderman on behalf of the company and by Kim Duchossois and her daughter Jessica Green on behalf of the family.

The Duchossois family received the Humanitarian Award for their "community leadership and commitment to empowering individuals through wellness and education," while United won the award "for their efforts in inspiring future generations of leaders and lifting up individuals impacted by disaster," according to museum representatives.

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The fundraiser raised more than $3 million for the museum.

Harris was awarded the distinguished Survivor Legacy Award after more than 40 years of leadership at the museum, including as board president.

Museum officials said he has been "tireless" in sharing his story of surviving the Holocaust with museum visitors, students and law enforcement officers who take part in the museum's programming.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who chaired the fundraising campaign to build the museum and served as the first chair of its board, gave opening remarks at the March 1 event, before the former president appeared in a question-and-answer session with Susan Abrams, the museum's chief executive officer.

During the session, Bush joked about meetings with Russian leader Vladimir Putin — of whom he famously said in 2001, "I looked the man in the eye. I found him very straightforward and trustworthy. I was able to get a sense of his soul." — where the former KGB agent "dissed" the second-generation president's dog, according to Politico Illinois. He also said the lesson of the attacks of September 11, 2001, remains relevant today.

"We cannot be an isolationist nation and hope to protect ourselves. The idea that how other people live does not matter is foolhardy," Bush said, according to Politico. "The lesson of 9/11, there are people who can’t stand our way of life and are willing to do us harm. And therefore, the United States must be forward-leaning in protecting our people, not hoping for the best."

Due to the museum's speaking contract with Bush, his remarks were not recorded.

In a statement, Abrams emphasized that the museum's mission is to both remember the past and transform the future.

“Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center honors Survivors and victims of the Holocaust by teaching universal lessons that combat antisemitism, prejudice, and indifference," Abrams said, "and inspiring visitors to become Upstanders who speak out for what’s right – turning powerful lessons of history into positive actions today.”