When real estate mogul Bill Morgan shares his personal story of how he escaped the Stanislawow ghetto in Poland to eventually find safe passage to Iowa and then Houston, he says that he was born at the wrong time, in the wrong place and of the wrong religion.
Morgan, who turned strife into a lifelong mission to expunge hate, prejudice and apathy wherever he can, was the honored guest of the Holocaust Museum Houston's Next Generation young professionals kickoff gathering at Ciao Bello Wednesday. His presence roused a record crowd of more than 225 for this emerging throng of good Samaritans who're following in Morgan's footsteps as they carry his message of love, respect and inclusion — no matter the race, religion or background.
Leading the charge for this event was attorney Marc Eichenbaum, who alongside his steady, Jennifer Graff, welcomed the Holocaust survivor and author of Living Longer Than Hate with the help of an influential host committee that included, among many, David Janco, Adrienne Saxe, Meghan Miller, Ben Proler, Rebecca Putterman, Eliza Wright plus Brittany Sakowitz and Kevin Kushner.
Ciao Bello responded in kind by sponsoring passed hors d'oeuvres and wine. Endless trays of flatbread pizzas, meatballs, ravioli and antipasto skewers pleased the talkative group as membership numbers soared ahead of the Guardian of the Human Spirit Luncheon on Nov. 18 honoring Morgan and Murry Bowden.
Seen on the scene were Cory Powell, Rachel and Daniel Fein, Lori Shenker, Chris Brown, Jay Zeidman, Jodi and Michael Rubenstein, Philip Morgan, Erin Finger, Jaime Acosta, Lee Mimms, Jessica Hart, Mark Zimmerman and director of board services Dawn Gillespie.
Melanie Campbell, from left, Fabrizio Consiglio and Andi Roiz-Chambers at the Holocaust Museum Houston's Next Generation Young Professionals kickoff party.
