Actor Liev Schreiber headlines emotional Illinois Holocaust Museum dinner

More than 1,400 business, civic, and community leaders gathered at the Hyatt Regency Chicago on March 10 for the annual Humanitarian Awards Dinner benefiting the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center. The sold-out evening honored Ambassador Rahm Emanuel and Julie Smolyansky with the Museum’s prestigious Humanitarian Awards while underscoring the growing urgency of Holocaust and genocide education amid rising antisemitism and hate worldwide.

Guests heard moving remarks from award-winning actor, director and humanitarian Liev Schreiber, who spoke passionately about the importance of preserving survivor stories and standing against antisemitism. Additional remarks came from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Bianna Golodryga, and other dignitaries throughout the evening.

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The Museum presented its Humanitarian Award to Ambassador Emanuel in recognition of his decades-long commitment to public service, including his leadership as former mayor of Chicago and most recently as United States Ambassador to Japan. Smolyansky, president and CEO of Lifeway Foods and a founding member of the Museum, was honored for her humanitarian efforts supporting women and children globally, as well as her advocacy work through Burd Beauty, a mission-driven hair care brand focused on ending teen dating violence.

One of the evening’s most exciting moments came with the unveiling of “Voices of Survival,” a groundbreaking immersive digital platform designed to preserve and amplify the testimonies of Holocaust and genocide survivors for future generations. The innovative initiative reflects the Museum’s ongoing commitment to transforming education through technology and storytelling.

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Museum CEO Bernard Cherkasov also announced that the Museum’s downtown satellite location, Experience360, will extend its Chicago run through December 2026. The extension allows even more visitors to engage with the Museum’s powerful educational mission while renovations continue at its main campus in Skokie, which is expected to reopen in fall 2026.

The annual fundraiser remains one of Chicago’s most impactful nonprofit events, helping support the Museum’s mission to honor the memories of the six million Jews and millions of others murdered during the Holocaust while teaching universal lessons that combat hatred, prejudice, and indifference. Through its world-class exhibitions and educational programming, the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center continues to inspire audiences to remember the past and help shape a more compassionate future.