75TH BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE
75TH BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE
75TH BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE
ABOUT

The Anne Frank 75th Birthday Tribute was conceived as a powerful call for racial tolerance and understanding on what would have been Anne Frank’s 75th birthday. Through music, celebrity readings from her diary, and intimate reflections from family and friends, the event honored Anne’s enduring legacy, rekindling her message of compassion and resilience. Those closest to her brought her memory vividly to life, allowing her voice to resonate anew with the audience.

Event Chair Miep Gies—the courageous woman who sheltered Anne and her family for more than two years, and who later preserved Anne’s diary—captured the spirit of the gathering: “It is indeed important that on her 75th birthday we celebrate the ideals she held and recorded in her diary. People need to remember that Anne is not just a distant historical figure and a victim of the Holocaust, but that she was also a lively, talented girl, whose appeal to fight racism and anti-Semitism is still relevant today.”
ABOUT

The Anne Frank 75th Birthday Tribute was created to promote racial tolerance and understanding on what would have been Anne Frank’s 75th birthday. By highlighting Anne’s legacy through music, celebrity readings from her diary and special remembrances of her life by a member of her family and her friends, Anne’s message of humanity resonated with the audience as the event brought her memory to life by those who knew her best.

As Event Chair Miep Gies, the courageous woman who hid Anne Frank and her family for over two years, and who found Anne’s diary stated, “It is indeed important that on her 75th birthday we celebrate the ideals she held and recorded in her diary. People need to remember that Anne is not just a distant historical figure and a victim of the Holocaust, but that she was also a lively, talented girl, whose appeal to fight racism and anti-Semitism is still relevant today.”
ABOUT

The Anne Frank 75th Birthday Tribute was created to promote racial tolerance and understanding on what would have been Anne Frank’s 75th birthday. By highlighting Anne’s legacy through music, celebrity readings from her diary and special remembrances of her life by a member of her family and her friends, Anne’s message of humanity resonated with the audience as the event brought her memory to life by those who knew her best.

As Event Chair Miep Gies, the courageous woman who hid Anne Frank and her family for over two years, and who found Anne’s diary stated, “It is indeed important that on her 75th birthday we celebrate the ideals she held and recorded in her diary. People need to remember that Anne is not just a distant historical figure and a victim of the Holocaust, but that she was also a lively, talented girl, whose appeal to fight racism and anti-Semitism is still relevant today.”
THE ORIGIN

The Diary of Anne Frank endures as both the world’s most renowned journal and one of its most moving human rights documents. Through its pages, a young author’s words transcend time, delivering an enduring call for justice and compassion. In 2004, Anne Frank would have turned 75—a milestone that inspired David Clark to reach out to The Anne Frank Center, envisioning a powerful celebration of Anne’s life and legacy. The proposed event, an all-star Anne Frank 75th Birthday Tribute, would not only honor her memory but also underscore the profound impact that young voices can have in the pursuit of human rights.
THE ORIGIN

The Diary of Anne Frank is the most famous journal in the world and one of the most poignant human rights documents of all time. It demonstrates the power of the written word as its young author was able to reach out to the ages through its vivid and powerful message of social justice. In 2004, Anne Frank would have celebrated her 75th birthday. Realizing that this occasion could serve as a poignant platform to celebrate the life and legacy of Anne Frank as well as highlight the impact young people can make in regards to human rights, Clark approached The Anne Frank Center with the idea to create an all-star Anne Frank 75th Birthday Tribute.
THE ORIGIN

The Diary of Anne Frank is the most famous journal in the world and one of the most poignant human rights documents of all time. It demonstrates the power of the written word as its young author was able to reach out to the ages through its vivid and powerful message of social justice. In 2004, Anne Frank would have celebrated her 75th birthday. Realizing that this occasion could serve as a poignant platform to celebrate the life and legacy of Anne Frank as well as highlight the impact young people can make in regards to human rights, Clark approached The Anne Frank Center with the idea to create an all-star Anne Frank 75th Birthday Tribute.
THE EVENT

Inspired by the vision, the Anne Frank Center joined forces with David Clark, helping him reach out to Buddy Elias, Anne’s cousin and last surviving family member, to serve as host for this extraordinary event. With Elias’s support, Clark secured two legendary Event Chairs: Miep Gies, then 96, the courageous woman who sheltered the Frank family for two harrowing years, and Dr. Simon Wiesenthal, then 97, the Holocaust survivor, author, and relentless Nazi hunter who tracked down the SS officer responsible for the Franks' arrest.

A poignant moment of the evening unfolded as Elias introduced Edmund “Hello” Silverberg, Anne’s boyfriend before she went into hiding. Silverberg honored her memory by reading from her diary, bringing Anne’s words to life alongside actresses Millie Perkins, who played Anne in the 1959 film The Diary of Anne Frank, and Natalie Portman, who portrayed Anne in the 1997 Broadway revival.

The event’s Honorary Chairs were President Jimmy Carter, President Bill Clinton, and Senators Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Bob Dole. A constellation of readers and musicians—including Richard Gere, Whoopi Goldberg, Amy Irving, Laura Linney, Tim Blake Nelson, Gabriel Byrne, Emmy Rossum, Lou Reed, and Cyndi Lauper—contributed to the evening, weaving together Anne’s words with music and reflection to celebrate her enduring legacy.
THE EVENT

Excited by the idea, the Anne Frank Center helped Clark reach out to Buddy Elias, Anne’s cousin and only living family member, to host the event. With Mr. Elias support, Clark confirmed two remarkable Event Chairs for the benefit: Miep Gies, age 96, the woman who hid the Frank family for two years and Dr. Simon Wiesenthal, age 97, a Jewish Austrian Holocaust survivor, writer and Nazi hunter who eventually found the SS officer who arrested Anne and her family. 

A highlight of the evening occurred when Mr. Elias introduced his special friend, Edmund “Hello” Silverberg, Anne’s boyfriend at the time of her hiding, who celebrated Anne’s life by reading from her diary. Millie Perkins, who portrayed Anne in the 1959 film “Diary of Anne Frank,” and Natalie Portman, who played Anne in the 1997 Broadway production of the same name, both read passages from her diary as well.

Honorary Chairs for the evening were President Jimmy Carter, President Bill Clinton, then Senators Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Bob Dole. Readers and musicians included Richard Gere, Whoopi Goldberg, Amy Irving, Laura Linney, Tim Black Nelson, Millie Perkins, Natalie Portman, Gabriel Byrne, Emmy Rossum Lou Reed and Cindi Lauper.
THE EVENT

Excited by the idea, the Anne Frank Center helped Clark reach out to Buddy Elias, Anne’s cousin and only living family member, to host the event. With Mr. Elias support, Clark confirmed two remarkable Event Chairs for the benefit: Miep Gies, age 96, the woman who hid the Frank family for two years and Dr. Simon Wiesenthal, age 97, a Jewish Austrian Holocaust survivor, writer and Nazi hunter who eventually found the SS officer who arrested Anne and her family. 

A highlight of the evening occurred when Mr. Elias introduced his special friend, Edmund “Hello” Silverberg, Anne’s boyfriend at the time of her hiding, who celebrated Anne’s life by reading from her diary. Millie Perkins, who portrayed Anne in the 1959 film “Diary of Anne Frank,” and Natalie Portman, who played Anne in the 1997 Broadway production of the same name, both read passages from her diary as well.

Honorary Chairs for the evening were President Jimmy Carter, President Bill Clinton, then Senators Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Bob Dole. Readers and musicians included Richard Gere, Whoopi Goldberg, Amy Irving, Laura Linney, Tim Black Nelson, Millie Perkins, Natalie Portman, Gabriel Byrne, Emmy Rossum Lou Reed and Cindi Lauper.
A UNIQUE AWARD

In a conversation with Anne’s cousin Buddy Elias, David Clark learned that Anne kept her diary with the dream of one day becoming a journalist. Inspired to honor her passion and champion the ideals she so bravely chronicled, Clark established the “Anne Frank Human Writes Award.” This award celebrates writers in all forms - from journalists and screenwriters to playwrights, poets, songwriters, and novelists - who harness the power of words to advance the cause of social justice.
A UNIQUE AWARD

Clark learned from Anne’s cousin Buddy Elias that Anne kept her diary because she wanted to become a journalist when she grew up. In order to honor Anne’s passion and promote the values she wrote about in her diary, Clark created the “Anne Frank Human Writes Award,” to promote writers of every description – from journalists to screenwriters, playwrights to poets, and songwriters to novelists — who use their skill as writers to promote social justice.
THE RECIPIENT

Before becoming Director of the Anne Frank Foundation in Basel, Switzerland, Anne’s cousin Buddy Elias dedicated his life to acting. When David Clark asked Elias who he believed best embodied Anne’s spirit and was most deserving of the Anne Frank Human Writes Award, Elias did not hesitate: Arthur Miller. Miller, he explained, wrote compellingly of ordinary people, much like Anne’s family, caught in extraordinary circumstances. When Clark approached Miller with the offer, he graciously accepted. But in a poignant turn, Miller passed away just weeks before the event.

Honoring his father’s deep appreciation for the award’s significance, Robert Miller attended the gala with Arthur’s sister to accept the award on his father’s behalf. In his father’s words, he conveyed, “My father accepted this honor because he believed deeply in the role of the writer in society and the power of words to illuminate the human condition. This award is a tribute to his lifelong commitment to that profound calling.”
THE RECIPIENT

Anne’s cousin Buddy Elias was a life-long actor before he became the Director of the Anne Frank Foundation in Basil, Switzerland. When Clark asked him who he felt would most appropriately represent his cousin Anne and be deserving of the award, Mr. Elias said he felt strongly that the recipient of the Anne Frank Human Writes Award should be Arthur Miller, a man who he said wrote about ordinary people like his family, who were swept up in extraordinary circumstances. When Clark approached Arthur Miller to receive this unique award from Anne’s cousin, Mr. Miller graciously agreed. Sadly, weeks before the Gala Event, Mr. Miller passed away.

Knowing how touched his father had been by the nature of this award, Robert Miller attended the event with Arthur’s sister and accepted the Human Writes Award on his fathers’ behalf, by stating, “My father agreed to accept this honor because of his belief in the relevance of the writer in society and their power to inform us of the human condition. I feel that this award honors his lifelong commitment to seeking and exploring that relevance.”
THE RECIPIENT

Anne’s cousin Buddy Elias was a life-long actor before he became the Director of the Anne Frank Foundation in Basil, Switzerland. When Clark asked him who he felt would most appropriately represent his cousin Anne and be deserving of the award, Mr. Elias said he felt strongly that the recipient of the Anne Frank Human Writes Award should be Arthur Miller, a man who he said wrote about ordinary people like his family, who were swept up in extraordinary circumstances. When Clark approached Arthur Miller to receive this unique award from Anne’s cousin, Mr. Miller graciously agreed. Sadly, weeks before the Gala Event, Mr. Miller passed away.

Knowing how touched his father had been by the nature of this award, Robert Miller attended the event with Arthur’s sister and accepted the Human Writes Award on his fathers’ behalf, by stating, “My father agreed to accept this honor because of his belief in the relevance of the writer in society and their power to inform us of the human condition. I feel that this award honors his lifelong commitment to seeking and exploring that relevance.”

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