Wilson Center wins grant from the Harri Hoffman Family Foundation
WILSON CENTER ANNOUNCES GRANT FROM The Harri Hoffman Family Foundation
Brookfield, WI (December, 2025) The Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts is a proud partner of Violins of Hope – Wisconsin, presented by Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO).
A generous grant from the Harri Hoffman Family Foundation allows the Wilson Center to add a second performance of an extraordinary evening with Violins of Hope-Wisconsin and Milwaukee Musaik on the evening of January 11, 2026.
This powerful concert offers: More seats. More stories. More community.
While many Violins of Hope partners are rooted in Jewish or Holocaust-centered missions, the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts will leverage its role as a secular community hub and expand the reach of this educational opportunity to audiences who may not otherwise encounter these stories. The Harri Hoffmann Family Foundation’s commitment to encouraging education, cultural understanding, and shared humanity align perfectly with the Wilson Center’s goal to expand the circle of understanding with this program.
As a partner, the Harri Hoffmann Family Foundation will support a program combining Jewish Activities and Educational Programming. The Wilson Center’s proven ability to present similar events with success, combined with Milwaukee Musaik’s innovative approach, and the violin’s extraordinary history, has ensured this performance will be meaningful, engaging, and inspirational.
“We are honored to take part in this deeply meaningful event that allows us to both to recognize the profound history of these instruments and to stand alongside the remarkable arts organizations participating,” shared Tyler Nikolas, Artistic Manager.
About the Performance
Join us for a moving evening as we partner with Violins of Hope-Wisconsin to present a concert that transcends time. Hear the voices of the past through restored instruments once played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust – symbols of resilience, courage, and survival. This is a tribute to the strength of the human spirit and the unifying power of music.
Tickets for the 7:30pm performance can be found here.
About the Harri Hoffman Family Foundation
“For multiple generations, the Harri Hoffmann Co. was the successful enterprise of Harri and Herta Hoffmann, who escaped Nazi persecution in Germany and came to America in 1939. In gratitude for their new life and because of their righteous beliefs, Harri, Herta and their daughter Lorraine began a long history of civic responsibility and philanthropy. Today, the Harri Hoffmann Family Foundation continues that legacy, supporting diverse programs, causes and institutions.
The Hebrew word Tzedakah is often translated as charity, but its root, Tzedek, signifies justice, righteousness, and fairness. The Foundation honors these values by supporting the many diverse needs of our community, our country, and our world. The Foundation follows a community-building needs-based approach in considering proposals, with emphasis on social services, Jewish activities, and education. While the Foundation often participates in projects of larger charities, it emphasizes its desire to assist smaller organizations where its grants can have a substantial impact.”
Find out morehere