Report: Manhattanville Students, Faculty Attend HHREC Event Honoring Richard Gere

The following report was originally posted on the Manhattanville College website:

Students and staff from Manhattanville College attended the Annual Benefit Dinner for the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) which honored renowned actor and human rights activist Richard Gere.

Rev. Wil Tyrrell, director of the Duchesne Center for Religious & Social Justice, stated, “Manhattanville’s participation in the HHREC event is evidence of our engagement with the larger community off campus. It also shows how important it is to us to be involved in human rights and questions of justice while we educate our students. Valerie Moore O’Keeffe, the Chairperson of the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center, is a Manhattanville alumna. That says it all.”

After receiving the Eugene M. & Emily Grant Spirit of Humanity Award, Gere spoke about his experience in Tibet and how people managed to love and remain peaceful in a place surrounded by hatred.

The HHREC also honored John M. Tolomer, president and CEO of the Westchester Bank, with the Bernard J. Rosenshein Courage to Care Award. In attendance were several Holocaust survivors including, Melvin Federbush, who spoke about forgiveness.

Click here to read the full report and other Manhattanville College news on the school’s website.

Photo: From left, Maria Camila Pava ’15, Valeria Ricciulli ’15, and Nataly Cifuentes ’16 with actor Richard Gere. Photo credit: Manhattanville College