Elie Wiesel

Obama Presidential Center Honoree

Elie Wiesel

Space Name: Elie Wiesel Auditorium | Forum | Level 1

Dr. Elie Wiesel was a Holocaust survivor, Nobel Prize recipient, author, and activist. He shared his personal story to bear witness to atrocity and advocate for human rights. Wiesel’s lifelong dedication to memory and storytelling as a means to speak out against oppression inspired President Obama. His legacy lives on here as a space for people to tell their stories, learn from each other, and find solutions to build a more just society. 

With gratitude to the Pritzker Traubert Family

“ Elie Wiesel endured the unimaginable evils of the Holocaust and emerged as the world’s conscience in the struggle for human rights. His unrelenting activism and prolific writing after bearing witness to such horrors is a call to each of us to never become indifferent. A more just and peaceful world is always possible.”

–Penny Pritzker

Legacy on Campus

  • Elie Wiesel Auditorium

    Located in the Forum, the Auditorium is a dynamic space that invites visitors to lean into their creativity through talks, spoken word, music, dance and more. At the Auditorium, performers and guests will gain the opportunity to explore the power of storytelling. 

  • Forum Talks

    Experience live conversations, readings, and moderated discussions in our new series that creates space for thoughtful exchange and shared learning, celebrating the enduring legacy of Elie Wiesel.  

    Learn More

Make a gift in honor of your heroes

Your honorary gift will help us inspire, empower, and connect leaders from around the world to take on the biggest challenges of our time.

The Barack Obama Foundation is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 46-4950751).

John Lewis

Meet More Honorees

Through the honoree naming initiative at the Obama Presidential Center, we are partnering with our donors to celebrate a part of the history in which the Obama story is so deeply rooted by associating a named space with a hero, moment, or person "on whose shoulders we stand"—an honoree who made the Obamas’ story possible.

Meet More Honorees