Hockey Great Wayne Gretzky, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, and Museum Namesake Stuart Weitzman were Among Event Co-Chairs; Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro Accepted Award on Behalf of Snider Family

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (June 22, 2023) – The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History (The Weitzman) raised more than $2 million at its annual Only in America® Gala, held at the Museum on Philadelphia’s historic Independence Mall on June 1.

A star-studded group of prominent figures in professional sports, business, and philanthropy from California to Philadelphia to Florida joined forces to honor late Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider with the Only in America® Award. Previous honorees  at events held in Philadelphia and New York include Joe Biden, the descendants of legendary composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, prominent business leaders and philanthropists Joseph S. Zuritsky and family, the Saligman Family, Ron Rubin (z”l), and Philip M. Darivoff, and most recently, award-winning journalist and CNN anchor, Wolf Blitzer.

As the country’s only museum dedicated exclusively to exploring and interpreting the American Jewish experience, the Weitzman’s annual event recognizes the achievements and contributions of American Jews who have significantly impacted American society and culture, often despite facing antisemitism and prejudice.

During the event, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro made remarks and accepted the award on behalf of the Snider family via video, vocalist and “Voice of the Flyers” Lauren Hart sang “God Bless America”— written by Jewish American Irving Berlin in 1918 while serving in the US Army during WWI (Berlin’s story and piano are featured in the Weitzman’s Ed Snider Only in America® Gallery)—and the evening concluded with a performance by Sheléa, singer, songwriter, keyboardist, musician, producer, and actress who had previously performed with her mentor and dear friend of Ed Snider’s, David Foster, at Ed Snider’s funeral service.

The main focus of the evening was the Museum’s core work of promoting civil discourse and combating antisemitism through education. 

More than a quarter of the financial support for the Museum through this event came from outside of Philadelphia, including New York, Florida, Washington D.C., and the Midwest. 

Only in America®

The event takes its name from the Only in America Gallery/Hall of Fame. As one of the original and leading donors to the Museum since 1976, Ed Snider established the Only in America® Gallery/Hall of Fame at The Weitzman when it reopened in its new location on Independence Mall in 2010. 

“In establishing the Museum’s Only in America® Gallery, Ed Snider helped us recognize and honor the most accomplished Jewish Americans in our country’s history,” added Dr. Misha Galperin, the Weitzman’s President and CEO. “His legacy came full circle on June 1 when we honored him as a fellow Jewish American with an ‘Only in America’ life story.”

The Only in America® Gallery/Hall of Fame celebrates stories that represent the pinnacle of American freedom. It features iconic Jewish Americans, including Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, Louis Brandeis, Albert Einstein, Sandy Koufax, Estée Lauder, Steven Spielberg, Barbra Streisand, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Jonas Salk, and Harry Houdini, among others. Only in America® brings the stories of hard work and aspiration, courage and imagination, leadership and service to life through a combination of original artifacts, original films, and multimedia elements.

The Honoree

Called “the Greatest Mover and Shaker of the Millennium” by the Philadelphia Daily News, Ed Snider was the chairman of Comcast Spectacor, which owns the Philadelphia Flyers—Philadelphia’s first NHL franchise which Ed founded in the 1960s, the Wells Fargo Center, and Comcast SportsNet. He once owned the Philadelphia 76ers, was a part-owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, and founded the regional cable network PRISM. The Flyers won their first Stanley Cup under his leadership. He’s a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. 

Snider was passionate about fighting antisemitism through the causes he supported. He boldly supported the Soviet Jewry movement through philanthropy and actions, such as hanging signs in support of “refuseniks” when the Flyers played the Soviet Army team in an exhibition game. He believed preserving and sharing the joyful and powerful stories of American Jewish life at The Weitzman could combat bigotry and antisemitism.

Snider’s daughter, Lindy, and grandson, Garrett, both currently serve on the Weitzman’s Board and were integral in organizing the June 1st event and surpassing its financial goals. His Snider Foundation continues to serve as a changemaker for many organizations and charitable efforts, including Jewish causes.

Gala Chairs:

Shelli & Gary Bettman, Sandy & Steve Cozen, Janet & Wayne Gretzky, Anne & Matt Hamilton, Rachel & Drew Katz, Amy Klumpp & Richard J. Green, Aileen & Brian Roberts, Lyn M. Ross, Garrett Snider, Lindy Snider, and Jane & Stuart Weitzman.

Learn more.

 

This event was made possible thanks to presenting sponsors: Comcast Corporation and the Philadelphia Flyers, with special thanks to The Snider Foundation.

Download High-Resolution Photos
Event photos and video remarks by Governor Shapiro, captions and credit lines enclosed

The Weitzman and Only in America Gallery  images; credit lines enclosed

 

ABOUT THE WEITZMAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY
Established in 1976, and situated on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall, the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History is the only museum in the nation dedicated exclusively to exploring and interpreting the American Jewish experience. The Weitzman presents educational programs and experiences that preserve, explore, and celebrate the history of Jews in America. Its purpose is to connect Jews more closely to their heritage and to inspire in people of all backgrounds a greater appreciation for the diversity of the American Jewish experience and the freedoms to which Americans aspire. https://theweitzman.org/

 

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