Christmas gift to honor Holocaust survivor benefits after school program in Bradenton

Christmas gift from Holocaust survivor benefits after-school program

BRADENTON -- Children in the after-school program at the Emmanual United Methodist Church will work in a new computer lab as part of a Christmas gift in memory of a Holocaust survivor.

The Al Katz Center on Cortez Road in Bradenton donated the computer lab to help children in the church homework helpers program. The free weekly Wednesday sessions serve children through teenagers. The program, run by volunteers, also helps mothers earn GEDs.

"My father loved children," said Katz's daughter, Beverly Newman, who runs the center with her husband, Lawrence Newman.

Mr. Katz died July 11, 2010, and the center was established in his name in 2012.

The Al Katz Center was given about 40 computers, which is way more than it can use, Newman said. So, center officials began looking for charitable organizations helping children. They found the church through an old friend of her father, Newman said.

Up to 15 computers are being transferred to the church. The center is also donating computers as Christmas presents to families in need.

"I know this is something he would really love," Newman said.

Katz and his family always celebrated Dec. 25 in the same way. He'd watch "A Christmas Carol" with his daughter, give presents to his wife for her birthday, send cards and gifts to Christian friends and eat Chinese food. Katz spent seven years working as slave labor under the Nazis, and he lived his life with charity and respect for his neighbors, his daughter said.

The center hosts 75 Jewish learning programs each year and provides free advocacy services for elders experiencing guardianship crises. The center recently moved into the Cortez Commons shopping plaza.

The center is convening a conference Jan. 7 by famed U.S. Army veteran and Holocaust hero Frank Towers, who liberated 2,500 starving and dying Jews from a death train to Dachau.

For conference registration, contact Newman at the center at 941-313-9239. The conference is free to Holocaust survivors and liberators. Advance reservations required.

For information on the homework helpers program run by the church, call 941-224-5891.

Meghin Delaney, education reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7081. Follow her on Twitter@MeghinDelaney.

This story was originally published December 24, 2015 at 4:19 PM with the headline "Christmas gift to honor Holocaust survivor benefits after school program in Bradenton ."