Holocaust Awareness Museum

and Education Center

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HAMEC Annual Gala

An Evening of Remembrance and Community

Join us for HAMEC’s Annual Gala & Silent Auction on Saturday, November 15, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. at the Reformed Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park, PA. This year’s event honors Alberta P. O’Brien, Ed.D., and David P. Hardy, whose dedication reflects the museum’s mission to preserve Holocaust history and foster respect among all people. Guests will gather for an inspiring evening of reflection, recognition, and support for HAMEC’s ongoing work in education, remembrance, and community outreach.

November 15, 2026

Starting 4:30 pm

ORDER TICKETS TODAY

Keneseth Israel

8339 Old York Road
Elkins Park, PA 19027

Our 2026 Honorees

David Hardy - 2026 Annual Gala

David P. Hardy

David P. Hardy is President of Girard College, a tuition-free boarding school serving low-income students. Hardy is widely regarded as a leading educational innovator…

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Alberta O'Brien EdD - 2026 Annual Gala

Alberta P. O’Brien, Ed.D.

Alberta P. O’Brien, Ed.D., serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the first K–12 charter school in Philadelphia, educating students from diverse backgrounds…

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Kira Gulko, 2025 HAMEC Annual Gala honoree

Kira Gulko

Kira Gulko is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in psychology. She is also minoring in business while obtaining a certificate in …

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HAMEC Annual Gala event page

2025 Gala & Silent Auction Sponsorship Levels

Through survivor stories, exhibits, and programs, HAMEC keeps Holocaust history alive and fosters respect among all people. Your contributions will allow HAMEC to bring the following services to the community.

Below are our various sponsorship levels

$100

Gala Seats: 0

Your impact: Funds a restoration or preservation of one exhibit artifact.

$150

Gala Seats: 0

Your impact: Funds Testimony Presentation/in person or virtual (matching fund)

$250

Gala Seats: 0

Your impact: Funds the Development of a Generations Project Presentation

$500

Gala Seats: 0

Your impact: Funds a virtual public program (Zoom/Facebook Live).

Recognition & benefits:

  • Name recognition in the program book and on HAMEC’s website.

$1,000

Gala Seats: 4

Your impact: Funds Artifact Collection Conservation / Quarterly Assessment.

Recognition & benefits:

  • Name recognition in the program book and on HAMEC’s website.

$2,500

Gala Seats: 4

Your impact: Funds an in-person public program

Recognition & benefits:

  • Name recognition in the program book and on HAMEC’s website.
  • Private tour and testimony at the museum for up to 10 guests

$5,000

Gala Seats: 8

Your impact: Funds a Legacy Library video testimony segment

Recognition & benefits:

  • Name recognition in the program book and on HAMEC’s website.
  • Private tour and testimony at the museum for up to 10 guests
  • Recognition in a Legacy Video

$10,000

Gala Seats: 12

Your impact: Funds 67 School programs throughout the area

Recognition & benefits:

  • Name recognition in the program book and on HAMEC’s website.
  • Private tour and testimony at the museum for up to 10 guests
  • Recognition in a Legacy Video

$25,000

Gala Seats: 12

Your impact: Supports HAMEC’s efforts to enhance exhibits and related technology

Recognition & benefits:

  • Name recognition in the program book and on HAMEC’s website.
  • Private tour and testimony at the museum for up to 10 guests
  • Recognition in a Legacy Video
  • Private Dinner with Chef Mark Twersky (for 6–8 guests) 

Celebrating our 2025 Gala
David Hardy - 2026 Annual Gala

David P. Hardy

David P. Hardy is President of Girard College, a tuition-free boarding school serving low-income students in single-parent households in grades 1-12. For 177 years, the school has provided rigorous college-preparatory education to some of Philadelphia’s most underserved children.

Hardy is widely regarded as a leading educational innovator with more than 40 years of experience. He began his career at Community High School, later the Community Academy of Philadelphia Charter School. In 2001, he led the first bond financing for a Pennsylvania charter school. In 2004, he negotiated the contract that resulted in the creation of Fairhill Community High School-now One Bright Ray, an alternative program for over-aged, under-credited students.

In 2006, after overcoming legal challenges from several activist organizations, Hardy secured a charter for Boys Latin of Philadelphia, a single-gender public charter school serving primarily African American boys from low-income communities. The school earned national recognition for its academic success.
After retiring from Boys Latin, Hardy served as Executive Director of Excellent Schools PA, a school choice advocacy organization, and founded Parkway Educational Consultants.

He currently serves on several boards, including Independence Mission Schools, Pennwood Cyber Charter School, Choose Schools, the North Carolina Outward Bound School, and the Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center. He is also a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Commonwealth Foundation.

Alberta O'Brien EdD - 2026 Annual Gala

Alberta P. O’Brien, Ed.D.

Alberta P. O’Brien, Ed.D., serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the first K–12 charter school in Philadelphia, educating students from diverse backgrounds. With 30 years of experience as a teacher, principal, and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, she brings a comprehensive understanding of educational leadership. Since becoming CEO of Community Academy of Philadelphia, CS, Dr. O’Brien has championed innovative programming and a whole-child approach prioritizing academic excellence, emotional well-being, and community engagement.

In addition to her educational leadership, Dr. O’Brien is a dedicated advocate for equity and historical understanding. For fourteen years, she has served on the Board of the Holocaust Awareness Museum and Education Center, preserving the memory of the Holocaust, educating future generations, and fostering empathy through artifacts, testimonies, and outreach.

Earlier in her career, Dr. O’Brien served as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer, teaching math and science in Namibia at the end of apartheid. This experience continues to shape her leadership and reinforces her belief in education as a force for justice and peace.

In her community, Dr. O’Brien has spent fifteen years on the Huntingdon Valley Athletic Association Board and currently serves as President, advancing her commitment to equity in education and athletics.

Kira Gulko, 2025 HAMEC Annual Gala honoree

Kira Gulko

Kira Gulko is a senior at the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in psychology. She is also minoring in business while obtaining a certificate in corporate and community relations. While being a full-time student, Kira also works part-time. At Pitt, she is actively involved in the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority, Ballet Club, Chabad, and the psychology honor society, Psi Chi. Kira’s experiences have honed her leadership skills and deepened her commitment to community engagement.

Kira is a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and has been profoundly connected to the Jewish community throughout her entire life.

Kira’s dedication to Holocaust education and survivor advocacy is exemplified through her volunteer work with the Holocaust Survivor Program at KleinLife. Additionally, she has participated in the Diller Teen Fellows program, a yearlong leadership initiative that empowers teens to explore their Jewish identities and inspires them to become active leaders committed to tikkun olam. Through her work, Kira has prioritized amplifying survivors’ voices, ensuring their narratives continue to educate and inspire future generations.

In the summer of 2024, Kira completed the Franklin C. Ash Summer Internship Program through JEVS Human Services, interning at Women Against Abuse. During her internship, she attended a conference where a Holocaust survivor shared his story after touring the Holocaust Museum. This event, where many attendees hadn’t even met a survivor, deeply moved everyone. It reinforced Kira’s values and the importance of preserving these narratives. Through these experiences, Kira remains steadfast in her mission to honor the past by educating others and ensuring that the stories of Holocaust survivors continue to resonate and inspire action.