8 ▁to ▁ 1 9 8 6 , ▁spe ar head ing ▁the ▁building ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Hol oca ust ▁Memorial ▁Museum ▁in ▁Washington , ▁D . C . ▁ ▁The ▁museum ▁gives ▁The ▁El ie ▁Wies el ▁Award ▁to ▁" intern ation ally ▁prominent ▁individuals ▁whose ▁actions ▁have ▁advanced ▁the ▁Museum ' s ▁vision ▁of ▁a ▁world ▁where ▁people ▁confront ▁hat red , ▁prevent ▁gen o cide , ▁and ▁promote ▁human ▁dign ity ". ▁The ▁Foundation ▁had ▁inv ested ▁its ▁end ow ment ▁in ▁money ▁manager ▁Bernard ▁L . ▁M ado ff ' s ▁invest ment ▁Pon zi ▁scheme , ▁cost ing ▁the ▁Foundation ▁$ 1 5 ▁million ▁and ▁Wies el ▁and ▁his ▁wife ▁much ▁of ▁their ▁own ▁personal ▁sav ings . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁Nobel ▁Peace ▁Prize ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 6 ▁for ▁speaking ▁out ▁against ▁violence , ▁repr ession , ▁and ▁rac ism . ▁The ▁Norwegian ▁Nobel ▁Committee ▁described ▁Wies el ▁as ▁" one ▁of ▁the ▁most ▁important ▁spiritual ▁leaders ▁and ▁gu ides ▁in ▁an ▁age ▁when ▁violence , ▁repr ession , ▁and ▁rac ism ▁continue ▁to ▁character ize ▁the ▁world ". ▁Wies el ▁explained ▁his ▁feelings ▁during ▁his ▁accept ance ▁speech : ▁ ▁He ▁received ▁many ▁other ▁pri zes ▁and ▁hon ors ▁for ▁his ▁work , ▁including ▁the ▁Cong r essional ▁Gold ▁Medal ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 5 , ▁the ▁President ial ▁Medal ▁of ▁Fre edom , ▁and ▁The ▁International ▁Center ▁in ▁New ▁York ' s ▁Award ▁of ▁Ex cell ence . ▁ ▁He