Alpha Epsilon Pi brothers at the University of Arizona and Arizona State University have set a goal to raise $25,000 to help fund the construction of the Hilton Family Holocaust Center in Phoenix. Named in honor of one of this project’s leaders, Brother Steve Hilton (Arizona, 1983), the Center is dedicated to exploring the lessons of the Holocaust and other crimes against humanity. For more information about the new Center, click here.

This is an undergraduate-led campaign because, “AEPi at ASU and UofA is committed to strengthening Jewish identity, combating antisemitism, and educating future generations. In alignment with our values and AEPI’s mission of promoting Jewish leadership and advocacy, we are launching a $25,000 fundraising initiative to support the Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center in Phoenix. By raising these funds, AEPI will leave a lasting impact on Holocaust education in Arizona and ensure that future generations have access to immersive learning experiences that preserve the truth of the Holocaust and equip students to stand against hate.

As the leading Jewish fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi holds a sacred responsibility to preserve Jewish history, strengthen Jewish identity, and combat antisemitism through education. The Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center, set to open in 2027 in downtown Phoenix, will stand as a beacon of remembrance and resilience, ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust remain at the forefront of education and advocacy.

By committing to raise $25,000 in the name of AEPI, we are not just making a donation—we are cementing our fraternity’s legacy in Jewish advocacy. Our contributions will help future generations understand the weight of history and empower them to stand against hatred and ignorance.

The center’s proximity to the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at ASU presents a unique opportunity for AEPI to collaborate and physically use the space. AEPI brothers studying journalism, communications, and political science can work with Cronkite News and other media outlets to amplify awareness and document survivor stories. This partnership allows us to shape the conversation on Holocaust education and antisemitism, extending our impact beyond the fraternity. Beyond community engagement, this initiative reinforces AEPI’s core values by strengthening Jewish identity and heritage among our brothers. Through privileged access to Holocaust survivor testimonies, historical archives, and interactive exhibits, AEPI members will develop a deeper connection to Jewish history. Additionally, this initiative provides a unique platform for Jewish Identity Chairs, student leaders, and community organizations to collaborate on meaningful programming that highlights the importance of remembrance and resilience. In an era where antisemitism is on the rise, this education center will serve as a crucial tool in equipping AEPI brothers with the knowledge and advocacy skills needed to challenge misinformation and intolerance. Arizona law mandates Holocaust education in public schools, and AEPI can take the lead in promoting and expanding these educational initiatives in partnership with the Hilton Center. Our involvement ensures that this history is not just remembered but actively taught and understood by future generations.

About the AEPi Campaign

Brothers of AEPi from the Alpha Sigma Chapter at Arizona State

Brothers of AEPi from the Upsilon Alpha Chapter at the University of Arizona

A Message from Sam Gottfried

President of AEPi at the University of Arizona

To all the distinguished parents, alumni, and members of the Jewish Community of Arizona,

In a world where 15% of the USA believes that the Holocaust was exaggerated, where innocent Jews are captured by terrorists and brutally tortured and killed; where Jewish students on campus feel threatened and terrorized by protestors shouting anti-Semitic remarks when they couldn’t even tell you where Israel is on a map; where shocking acts of antisemitism are committed blatantly in the open for the world to see by some of our most prominent figures—how is it possible that this is the world we live in today?

In my opinion, the answer is an ever-increasing amount of misinformation spread across social media platforms and a decreasing number of people who witnessed the horrors of the Holocaust. This is why there is no better time to focus on Holocaust education. I see no better way of reinvesting in the Jewish community today than preserving our history and educating the next generation of Jews and non-Jews about the Shoah. Investing in this museum is investing in our story. Not a story written by somebody who wasn’t there. Not a story tweaked and modified years later. This is our true story written by Holocaust survivors and shown through artifacts, testimonies, and interviews. We can truly be witnesses to what happened in these people’s lives and educate our future generations on our history.

This is my story. I have had the great honor of being named after a Holocaust survivor named Solomon “Sam” Lebowitz, my great-grandfather. He, alongside countless members of my family, were impacted by the Holocaust. He never wanted to share his story, so there isn’t a whole lot that I know about it. All I know is that he was a resistance fighter in Romania and he lost almost all of his family members. But, my great-grandmother, Irene Lebowitz, who I had the privilege of meeting as a little boy, shared her entire story as part of Steven Spielberg’s initiative to interview Holocaust survivors in the early 2000s. She and her entire family were sent to Auschwitz, and everyone besides her and her sister were killed. She worked in Poland in the Danzig concentration camp sewing German uniforms for the army. She was then sent on a forced march from the Baltic Sea to the heart of Germany at the end of the war. Her life was spared after she fell asleep, by a German soldier who didn’t follow his orders to kill anybody who stopped marching. My great-grandparents met in a displaced persons camp in Germany following the end of the war. They got married in their hometown of Romuli, Romania, and came to New York on a boat a few years later. Her story is in the archives of the National Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C., and I am lucky enough to have the downloaded version if anyone wants to hear her story.

I would not be here today if the Holocaust did not happen. My great-grandparents and all who triumphed in this time of horror inspire me every day. I will carry on their legacy and I want to support this new center of Holocaust Education in Phoenix in honor of them. We must stay resilient in the fight for good versus evil and remember that we must and will endure throughout time.

The time to fight back is now.

Sam Gottfried

A Message from Dylan Marks

Vice President of AEPi at Arizona State

Having the rare privilege of diving into the history of the Holocaust through Chabad on Campus. Our journey began in Warsaw and took us all the way to Krakow, visiting the major epicenters of the Jewish extermination. Unfortunately, not all college or high school students have the opportunity to travel to Poland, but through the efforts of the Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center, we can bring this vital education and history to Arizona for all.

I firmly believe that hate stems from misunderstanding. If students in fifth and eighth grade are given the chance to see and understand what extermination truly means, we can help ensure that “Never Again” is not just a phrase—it’s a reality.

Preserving Jewish stories is deeply personal to me. The Holocaust devastated Europe, and many survivors chose to remain silent about the atrocities they endured. Ilona Balner was an extremely close family friend—one of my father’s patients on the day I was born. As I grew older, we tried to ask her about her experiences, but she rarely spoke about them. That silence made me question why someone would struggle to talk about such a historic and widespread tragedy. It pushed me to educate myself further.

Time is moving forward, and with it, Holocaust survivors are passing away. This moment—right now—is when we must invest in the future of our Jewish community, ensuring that these stories, these people, our people, are remembered.

At Arizona State University, I never expected that defending Jewish identity would become such a significant part of my college experience. I assumed my time would be filled with classes and social events, but instead, I found a deeper purpose—one that keeps me grounded and connected to my family, friends, and faith.

Not everyone has met someone who is Jewish. This education center will bridge that gap. It will ensure that more people understand who we are and what we have endured, fostering awareness, empathy, and a stronger commitment to preventing history from repeating itself.

We will not be victims, we are victors.

Dylan S. Marks

To Donate

AEPi brothers, parents and friends can make tax-deductible donations to this effort through the Alpha Epsilon Pi Foundation.

If you have any questions, please contact Dylan Marks at aepiasu.vicepresident@gmail.com