Shaping Tomorrow’s Global Citizens: Amy and Andrew Cohn

On September 4, 2015, a crowd of more than a thousand refugees walk from Budapest, Hungary, toward the Austrian border, many hoping to gain asylum in Germany. —Andras Mayer for the US Holocaust Memorial Museum

“We came to learn the history of the Holocaust, but its lessons for the future unfolded before our eyes.” —Amy Cohn, National Chair of the Museum’s Annual Fund

“Through the prism of this history, and the way the Museum makes it part of your DNA, it creates a foundation for great citizenship and concern for the world,” explained Andrew Cohn. “The Museum not only does a great job of humanizing what could be viewed as the worst brutality humankind has ever perpetrated but puts it into a context relevant to today’s issues.”

Amy Cohn recently returned from a Museum trip to Austria and Hungary. “Visiting countries where these atrocities occurred, I was struck by the enormous differences in how they view their pasts,” observed Amy.

LEFT: Amy Cohn views rare documents at the National Archive of Hungary. RIGHT: Amy and Andrew Cohn

“In Hungary, it was very clear that they were trying to rewrite their history. We saw the opposite in Austria, where there seemed to be a deep sense of responsibility to make sure that Holocaust history is being taught truthfully, and they look to this Museum for guidance,” Amy continued. “Yet in both countries, the influence of and high regard for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum was evident. This speaks volumes about the bigger role this institution has to play.”

The Cohns have recently become members of the Leadership Circle — the Museum’s society recognizing annual gifts of $25,000 and above. They chose to make an unrestricted gift. “There is an evolution within any organization,” explained Andrew. “Our job is to enable the institution’s responsiveness — to let the professionals do what they need to do. The level of excellence that the Museum performs at is something I’ve never seen in an organization.”

“We had no family directly affected by the Holocaust. Originally we got involved with the Museum following the lead of our dear friends Bill and Susan Levine,” said Amy. “We had no idea what an important part of our lives it would become.” Amy has recently assumed the leadership of the Museum’s Annual Fund to share her passion for the Museum with others. “The more I immerse myself and gain a deeper understanding of what the Museum needs, what it is doing, I want to get the message out there.”

This article was first published in fall 2015.