The construction of the New England Holocaust Memorial was the result of an international art and architecture competition that drew over 1,000 entries from designers throughout the world, all interpreting the unspeakable genocide of six million Jewish people during World War II. With the donation of a parcel of land by Mayor Raymond L. Flynn and the generosity of donors throughout New England, memory of this horror now stands as a witness to the racial bigotry and hatred that erodes our humanity.

Once the design of architect Stanley Saitowitz was selected and the Memorial constructed, it was time to create inaugural events that would recognize the generous donors who had funded the five million dollar construction project and provide a dramatic introduction of this new cultural landmark to the City of Boston.

A black-tie inaugural gala was held at Boston City Hall and The Great Hall at Faneuil Hall for 1,000 major donors and community leaders the night before the public opening of the Memorial. The next morning 8,000 people attended the public ceremony with holocaust survivor Eli Wiesel giving the keynote address. Ten years later, Liz Page Associates was selected to co-produce the 10th anniversary commemorative dinner that raised $1.4 million to complete an endowment fund to provide maintenance and ongoing programming for the Memorial.