Sisters Ann Arnold and Isabella Fiske co-founded the Mark Schonwetter Holocaust Education Foundation (MSHEF) in honor of their father, with their mission being to provide funding for teachers across the country to include Holocaust education in their lesson plans, as well as empowering educators to teach anti-hate initiatives and cultivate a schooling environment founded on equality, kindness and respect. The funds can be used for purchasing educational materials, subsidizing field trips or covering the costs of speakers, assemblies and programs. Since its founding in 2019, the MSHEF has granted over $293,000, reaching over 114,000 students across 31 states.
An Inspiration
Mark Schonwetter was only five-years-old when the Nazis invaded his home country of Poland and he was forced to flee with his mother and younger sister. They spent months in a nearby ghetto, until they were forced to hide for three years in the Polish countryside. By the end of the war, Mark was one of only a handful of surviving Jews from his town. He moved to Israel with his mother and sister in 1957. In the 1960s, he immigrated to the United States alone, where he found work in a jewelry factory. Ultimately, he purchased a different jewelry company and remained in the industry until his retirement in 2018. Along the way he met his wife of 59 years, Luba and had his two daughters, Ann and Isabella.
In 2016, Ann published “Together: A Journey for Survival,” a book retelling her father’s story. “We grew up hearing bits and pieces of my dad’s story,” Ann said. “In 2009, we went back to Poland and it was such a life-changing experience.” This trip inspired her to share her father’s incredible story with the world, first through blog posts, which then turned into her full-length book. After the book’s release, Mark and his daughters began sharing his story with students and adults throughout the Northeast. “The book ushered him into this new chapter and sparked all the speaking engagements, and now, the foundation. It’s all a continuation,” Ann explained.
Ann’s book is also required reading at some schools Mark visits, leading for him to become akin to a celebrity in the hallways. “You would think Beyonce walked into the auditorium with the way kids cheer and stand and clap. It’s the sweetest thing. That’s when you see the effect that this story can have on children,” she said.
Starting the Foundation
Ann and Isabella, after the initial speaking engagements, discovered even affluent school districts weren’t receiving proper funding for Holocaust education, which sparked the idea for the non-profit. “My sister and I wanted to do something for our dad, and we wanted to do something that was meaningful and that was needed,” Ann said. Today, there are only 27 states that mandate Holocaust education. However, mandating and funding are two entirely separate entities. “In the same state, one school district may learn about the Holocaust in a single 50-minute period, and then in another school, they have a wide range of programs and bring in speakers and supply further educational tools. We started the foundation to hopefully bridge the gap,” Ann explained.
How to Support: Creative Initiatives
There are several ways to support the foundation. One of the most impactful ways is through financial contributions. By donating, individuals can directly contribute to the foundation’s ability to provide grants to schools and educators in need. Additionally, individuals can participate in fundraising events and initiatives organized by the foundation, such as “Journey for the Living,” a virtual fitness event where participants can choose to walk, run or ride 15 miles either in a day, every week or throughout the month. The 15 miles is a tribute to the distance Mark and his family walked in one night to escape their hometown in Poland. MSHEF is also an official charity partner for the New York City Marathon, which will take place on Sunday, November 3.
Looking Ahead
A recent feat for the organization was at the 36th Annual Teen Symposium for the Holocaust in Pennsylvania, where Holocaust education is not mandated statewide. This year’s event had a surge in attendance, with 1,650 students coming together to engage over two days filled with speakers, historical films and educational workshops. This uptick in attendance directly correlates with MSHEF’s work, as they gave out grants which funded 600 of the student’s experiences. Another notable success story stems from their outreach in Michigan, where their efforts led to a significant increase in grant applications, from just three to 91 in one year. MSHEF’s primary goal is to expand Holocaust education funding to all 50 states, ensuring widespread awareness and access to resources, by annually fundraising 2.5 million dollars.
mshefoundation.org
