The Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance honored University Park resident Frank Risch with the Hope For Humanity Award during its annual fundraising dinner on Tuesday at the Fairmont Hotel.

During his acceptance speech for the award, Risch said it is important for a new Holocaust museum to be built in Dallas to honor the survivors and help educate future generations about the historical tragedy, which was a result of hatred and prejudice.

"We've got a vital stake in the success of a permanent Holocaust museum," Risch said. "Our survivors deserve to see a new museum built during their lifetime."

Risch said hatred is a character trait that is learned but can also be unlearned, so there is a vital need to build a new museum to help promote tolerance and keep the memory of the Holocaust alive to prevent history from repeating itself.

Risch is the son of two Jewish immigrants who left Germany in 1937 to escape the Holocaust. Throughout his life, Risch has accomplished many things, including serving as a vice president at ExxonMobil.

Risch is now retired and has dedicated his time to a variety of nonprofit organizations that promote moral and ethical causes, including the AT&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), Communities Foundation of Texas, Dallas Holocaust Museum and the Dallas Zoological Society.

In addition to Risch accepting the Hope For Humanity award at the event, Holocaust survivors who were in attendance were recognized, and there was also a scripted performance titled "Stoop Stories: Stories of Life," in which actors portrayed victims of intolerance, including Holocaust and Darfur survivors, to help convey the importance of preserving the memory of the events.

Click here to find out more information about the Dallas Holocaust Museum/Center for Education and Tolerance.