By Anthony DeMatteo
Staff Writer
After almost 80 years of heartbreak, triumph and generosity, Henri Landwirth is focusing on the gift of life.
Landwirth, the Holocaust survivor who became an Orlando hotelier before creating multiple charitable foundations including Jacksonville’s Dignity-U-Wear, spoke Thursday at FCCJ’s Kent campus, saying he will focus exclusively on his Gift of Life in America foundation.
“I just gave up all my involvement and am not doing anything except Gift of Life in America,” he said. “I’m still on the boards of the other foundations, but I do not involve myself day-to-day, which I have always done, because it’s that important.”
It is young people Landwirth has recently befriended who have him focusing on Gift of Life two weeks before his 80th birthday. He and a group of FCCJ students have started HYPE (Helping You Pursue Equality) under the umbrella of the foundation. The program’s mission: fighting hate and intolerance, particularly among the young.
“I got inspired by these kids,” said Landwirth. “You can see how intelligent they are, how passionate they are. They alone are my inspiration. They’re the best of the best.”
Dozens of students signed up Thursday to join HYPE after speaking with Landwirth and watching his film, Gift of Life in America, which chronicles his life.
It’s a film including brutal descriptions and images of those murdered by the Nazi party during the Holocaust, including Landwirth’s parents.
FCCJ student Carrie Baker wiped away tears as it ended and the lights came back on in the Kent campus auditorium.
“It was really scary,” she said. “It was horrible to see people had to live like that. I think he’s an amazing person.”
Hate Hurts
To promote HYPE and the program, which Landwirth said will be called “Hate Hurts,” he will make 10 weekly TV appearances broadcast to Florida schools on an educational channel starting March 30. Landwirth will help run the program from his new office at FCCJ’s Deerwood campus.
He will also make the film available to schools throughout the state.
Baker said she thinks the success of HYPE will depend upon the mind set of those involved.
“It depends on how many people have open minds,” she said. “I hope so, for the sake of the way we live. I think it’s really important that everybody understand what can happen.”
HYPE member Jeremiah Guyette said he and other students were inspired to action after hearing Landwirth speak at Deerwood last November.
“Hate is at every level, affecting every age,” said Guyette. “To help fix things, you don’t necessarily need to visit a Holocaust museum or get 500 people together. It’s small things – not telling a racist joke, or not laughing at one.”
Erica Danese also joined the group after Landwirth’s November speech. She said the student response has been good.
“People are more than willing to help,” she said. “They notice what’s going on in the world and all the hatred. It’s not necessary. If you can get people to want to help and see that it’s wrong, maybe it can make things better.”
Landwirth is embarking on the “Hate Hurts” program with typical optimism.
“It’s going to start in Jacksonville and then all the other schools are going to join,” he said.
A group from the local State Attorney’s office attended the event.
“There are a lot of young people not really familiar with the Holocaust and all the hate,” said Becky Bowen, the administrative supervisor with the office. “This is helpful in bringing forth aspects of intolerance and hate, and might bring about a better future.”
During the question and answer session, Landwirth told students they are responsible for the stewardship of America.
“My generation is not going to be around, and it will be up to you to take care of yourself and make sure nothing happens to this most wonderful country in the world.”
Landwirth said several factors contribute to hate and that students involved in HYPE must encourage forgiveness in others.
“There’s prejudice among the races,” he said. “Some people are not being disciplined at home enough. They have a very difficult time to forgive once they get upset. You must learn to forgive one another. If you can forgive, hate goes away.”