Arizona Daily Sun
Daily Sun Staff

Martin-Springer Institute at NAU to receive $1.5 million

Author and nonprofit director Mitchell Raff, who is also the son of two Holocaust survivors, has established two planned gifts to the Martin-Springer Institute (MSI) at Northern Arizona University totaling $1.5 million.

Raff established a $1 million endowment in memory of Holocaust survivors Sally and Issa Springer, and has contributed an additional $500,000 to support MSI’s Holocaust education efforts.

Raff’s recently published memoir “Little Boy, I Know Your Name” includes remembrances of the Springers -- his paternal aunt and uncle -- who “showed him unwavering kindness, compassion and hope.” Issa Springer was also the brother of Doris Martin, who founded MSI with her husband Ralph. He died of metastatic colon cancer in 2005.

“I believe there is always hope and beauty despite our flaws and in the face of our trauma,” Raff said in the announcement. “Mercifully, I was able to transform my life through that process and give my inherited trauma a name: Holocaust.”

The endowment, called the Mitchell Raff Endowment for the Martin-Springer Institute in Memory of Sally and Issa Springer, will be used to support MSI programming that addresses current injustices in the memory of the Holocaust, “especially acts, policies and ideologies that undermine or seek to destroy our shared humanity.”

It will provide stipends to “deserving students in need,” including those from underrepresented backgrounds, and support MSI’s programming and operational expenses.

“With this future-focused gift, we can continue our mission for decades to come,” said Björn Krondorfer, MSI director and Regents’ professor.

The announcement noted his goal is to expand MSI’s programming and outreach, and one day have a dedicated MSI space at NAU.

“The gift from Mitchell represents the best in people: forward-looking to not repeat the mistakes of the past and ensure positive change in the future. His gift gives us the confidence that our program will continue to grow.”

More about NAU’s Martin-Springer Institute is at in.nau.edu/martin-springer.