Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida honored Jonathan and Nancy Wolf with the Tess Wise White Rose Award at its annual White Rose Tribute Event held at the Orlando Museum of Art on April 11. In addition, Nilam Patel, an English teacher at Dr. Phillips High School, was surprised with the first-ever White Rose Educator Award.

The Tess Wise White Rose Award, created in 1989, honors individuals who magnify the values of inclusiveness and respect and who demonstrate that through participation we can build a better home for all Central Floridians. This remarkable list of past honorees includes icons such as Nobel laureate and "Night" author Elie Wiesel, as well as the Center's founder and Holocaust survivor Tess Wise.

Locally, in addition to the Holocaust Center, the Wolfs have been supportive champions of the Orlando Museum of Art, Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando, and the University of Central Florida to name just a few. On an international scale, they created a partnership between UCF and The American University of Cairo paving the way for a reciprocal study abroad agreement, the Nancy and Jonathan Wolf Global Academic Initiative.

"Jonathan and Nancy are not just pillars of the Central Florida business community, but true visionaries who are dedicated to building a better world," said Talli Dippold, CEO, Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida. "From sponsoring educational exchange programs to their foundational support of our organization, they always meet the moment when it is needed most." 

Harrison Wolf with Nancy Wolf, Jonathan Wolf, daughter Sara and son-in-law Jared.

Patel teaches ninth grade honors English and is also the director of the Center for International Studies Magnet Program. Within the past three years, the program has been rebuilt and received the National Magnet Award of Distinction and Excellence and been awarded the top Magnet in OCPS.

"I also want to recognize Ms. Patel, whose dedication and care for her students is obvious when you meet her. I could not think of a more deserving inaugural winner of the White Rose Educator Award," said Dippold.

The White Rose Tribute Event helps support the Center's campaign to raise funds for its ongoing programming, which includes the Upstanders program, reaching 10,000 students per year and its three-decade-plus partnership with Orange County Public Schools, a one-of-a-kind arrangement that gives students a powerful understanding of the Holocaust.