The Walter and Louise Sommers Education Fund
This fund was established at CANDLES Holocaust Museum and Education Center in 2010 by Ron and Nancy Sommers in honor of their parents, Walter and Louise. It provides monetary assistance to financially challenged school groups to visit CANDLES, as well as to teachers who are seeking professional development in the area of Holocaust education.
Walter was born in Frankfurt, Germany in 1920. After living through the 1938 Nazi-orchestrated Kristallnacht attacks he escaped to America, where he joined the US Army and fought in World War II. Walter eventually found his way to Terre Haute in 1948 where he married Louise Levite, who had also emigrated from Germany. Though Walter and Louise escaped the horrors of Nazi Germany, many of their family did not. Walter lost eleven members of his family in the Holocaust. Fifteen members of Louise's family perished.
Since retiring in 1988, Walter has embraced the spirit of community service as a volunteer with the Red Cross, Vigo County Public Library, local and international Jewish organizations, Lighthouse Mission, American Legion, Hospice of the Wabash Valley, and Kiwanis. For the past several years Walter has also served as a regular docent at CANDLES, where he passionately teaches visitors about the Holocaust. He and Louise continue to be generous supporters of CANDLES.
Donations to the fund may be made payable to CANDLES and mailed to CANDLES Holocaust Museum, ATTN: Walter and Louise Sommers Education Fund, 1532 S. 3rd Street, Terre Haute, IN 47802. Donations may also be made online via credit card here. Please be sure to indicate in the comment section that your donation is for the Walter and Louise Sommers Education Fund.
