Photo: Sculptor Rick Wienecke’s Unknown Child statue, the centerpiece of the exhibit now on display at the DeSoto County Museum in Hernando (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Fifteen years ago, a group of Horn Lake Middle School students were tasked with a project. Learning that 1.5 million Jewish children had died in the Holocaust, the Pennies Project began.
The Holocaust was Nazi leader Adolph Hitler’s effort to exterminate the Jewish race from German-occupied Europe during World War II, murdering approximately six million Jews as a result.
Teachers Susan Powell and Melissa (Swartz) Wheeler wanted their students to envision just how many 1.5 million actually is. So, students set about collecting 1.5 million pennies by writing letters to actors, athletes, politicians, anyone they could think of. A homeschooling group from Germantown, Tenn. by the name of Gen SC asked to join in. Finally, after three-and-a-half years of collecting, the 1.5 million pennies were gathered.
The Pennies Project led to the start of the Unknown Child Foundation, which continues today. The goal of the foundation is to create a children’s Holocaust memorial. An exhibit that includes the pennies is temporarily housed in the DeSoto County Museum in Hernando at this time.
Celebrating the 15 years of the Unknown Child Foundation, as well as a means of fundraising to continue the work toward its goal, is behind a special event to be held on Monday, Dec. 16, starting at 6:30 p.m. in the Landers Center in Southaven. Priscilla Presley is to be the featured guest speaker, Powell said, noting that Elvis Presley’s grandmother was Jewish.
“We’re excited to share our vision for the future that will be shared that night,” Powell said. The vision includes a traveling exhibit to bring education and inspiration to communities across Mississippi and beyond.
When the foundation began, it commissioned Rick Wienecke of Israel to create a sculpture of an Unknown Child. Architect Doug Thornton of Hernando designed what would become the permanent memorial remembering the children of the Holocaust and showcasing the over 8,000 pounds of pennies students had collected.
The evening will also include hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and a silent auction. Powell said the program will include stories from Holocaust survivors, opportunities for photos with Priscilla Presley, and several students who originally were part of the Pennies Project are also expected to attend.
While the DeSoto County Museum is the temporary location for the exhibit, Thornton’s design of a memorial where the exhibit will be the featured part is still there to be placed.
“Right now, we are thankful for the DeSoto County Museum for hosting our temporary exhibit,” Powell said. “It has been said that it brings history to life for them and remembering the children who perished.”
Tickets for “A Night to Shine” are available at this website.
