The Unknown Child Foundation Expands Board

Two new members bring a personal and Jewish connection to the Unknown Child Foundation, Inc. board. The non-profit was established for the purpose of fulfilling its promise to the middle school students who began the project to use their 1.5 million collected pennies to build a memorial telling the story of the 1.5 million children who perished in the Holocaust.

“Peter Felsenthal and Marty Kelman embody the mission of the Foundation and bring insight, extra perspective and organizational development and networking skills,” said Foundation President Diane McNeil. “We are grateful to have them by our side as we tell the story of these children who perished in the Holocaust and of the local students who launched the campaign to have the world remember.”

Peter S. Felsenthal is CEO of Whitmor, Inc., a wholesale distributor of storage, organization and laundry accessory products. Whitmor’s international headquarters and distribution facility is based in Southaven, Miss. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and a JD from the University of Memphis School of Law. Peter currently serves on the board of the Desoto County Economic Development Council and Whitmor, Inc., and is a former board member of the Southaven Chamber of Commerce and Plough Towers.

Martin (Marty) S. Kelman is chairman of Kelman-Lazarov, Inc., a financial planning and investment advisory firm. Marty is a Certified Financial Planner and a Certified Retirement Counselor. He currently serves on the boards of Facing History and Ourselves and the Yom HaShoah Commission. He was past president of Lausanne Collegiate School, chairperson of Shelby County and Memphis Youth Guidance Commission and board member of Jewish Community Partners and Ridgeway Country Club.

Marty is a second generation of Holocaust survivors. His mother, Mrs. Paula Kelman, of blessed memory, was the first survivor to speak to the Horn Lake Middle School students who began the “Pennies Project,” the predecessor to the Unknown Child Holocaust Memorial.