Henry Swieca, founder of investment firm Talpion Fund Management and co-founder of hedge fund Highbridge Capital Management, is pledging USD1 million to The National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
Swieca's pledge is directed to the Cost of Victory gallery in the upcoming Liberation Pavilion, which will commemorate the destruction of life in Europe as well as the role America played in ending the Nazi reign of terror.
Henry Swieca is the son of Polish Holocaust survivors who emigrated to the US before his birth. "I grew up with great appreciation for America and its principals of freedom and liberty," says Swieca.
"I feel a very special connection to World War II and will always be grateful for America's critical role as the defender of liberty during the War and beyond," he says. "With highly engaging exhibits to educate visitors about the incredible sacrifices America made to defend liberty, this Museum helps to ensure the values we fought for get passed on to future generations."
The Liberation Pavilion, scheduled to open in 2019, will be a featured addition to The National WWII Museum's rapidly expanding six-acre campus. The museum's expansion will ultimately quadruple the institution's original size, adding state-of-the-art programmes, exhibits and archives. The Pavilion covers the closing months of the War and the post-War years concluding with an exploration of the meaning and lasting significance of America's defence of freedom.
The Cost of Victory gallery confronts visitors with the enormity of destruction and suffering during the global war.
"We are truly grateful for Henry's generosity and the generosity and support of so many others who share our passion for this great institution," says Dr Gordon H "Nick" Mueller, president and CEO of the museum. "It is through the kindness of our donors, who understand the importance of sharing the story of America's sacrifice for freedom, that we can ensure the museum continues to evolve and tell the complete story of our nation's experience in World War II. We couldn't do it without them."
