Holocaust Museum LA will honor philanthropist, entrepreneur and supermodel Cindy Crawford and 99-year-old Holocaust survivor Ella Mandel with the “Award of Courage” at the museum’s annual gala Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
Crawford and Mandel collaborated earlier this year when they posed for “Borrowed Spotlight,” a widely recognized awareness campaign exemplifying the strength of intergenerational advocacy. Crawford uses her platform to raise awareness about antisemitism, and Mandel shares her powerful testimony and messages of hope with students and museum visitors.
Jonah Platt, a podcaster, writer, producer and celebrated star of the Broadway classic, “Wicked,” will be honored with the first-ever Roz and Abner Goldstine Advocacy Award for his groundbreaking podcast, “Being Jewish with Jonah Platt.” Featuring diverse stories with various personalities, the podcast aims to engage, educate and empower audiences to embrace their heritage.
Marissa Lepor, granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and President of the 3G@HMLA board, will receive the Jona Goldrich Visionary Award. Lepor is a managing director at The Sage Group, an investment bank specializing in consumer brands. The Los Angeles Times honored Marissa as a visionary in banking and finance and fashion and beauty, and the Jewish Journal named her one of the “30 Under 30” remarkable people changing the LA Jewish community.
KTLA reporter Eric Spillman will serve as gala host. Currently under construction, the museum’s expanded campus — opening in June 2026 — will double its existing footprint and increase visitor capacity to 500,000 visitors annually, including 150,000 students. Permanent exhibits will utilize cutting-edge technology to preserve Holocaust survivor testimonies.
For more information on the gala and to purchase tickets or sponsorships, visit https://holocaustmuseumla.org/gala.
