SONJA AND CANTOR KURT MESSERSCHMIDT HUMANITARIAN AWARD
to be presented to NANCY AND CHARLIE SHUMAN on
The Sonja and Cantor Kurt Messerschmidt Humanitarian Award honors the lives of Sonja and Cantor Kurt Messerschmidt, holocaust survivors and leaders of the Portland Jewish community. This award honors their resilience, compassion, respect, leadership for the entire community and success against great odds. Sonja and Cantor Messerschmidt, were long-time residents at The Cedars,
The third Sonja and Cantor Kurt Messerschmidt Award will honor Nancy and Charlie Shuman. Their generosity has strengthened communities across Maine—from major health and childhood‑development initiatives to the Nancy Shuman Animal Shelter, United Way, and their long, meaningful ties to The Cedars – uplifting children, animals, and older adults statewide.
In 2019, Judy Glickman Lauder was the inaugural recipient of the Award.
In 2023, Weston L. Bonney was the second recipient of the Award.