The uplifting lessons of Otto Frank, Anne Frank’s father, will be featured at the Highlands Ranch Historical Society’s meeting at 7 p.m., Aug. 15, Southridge Recreation Center, 4800 McArthur Ranch Road.

Cara Wilson-Granat, an author and motivational speaker, will share Otto’s wisdom and thoughts gleaned from her 20-year correspondence with Otto. He transformed the lives of many young people, including Cara, who reached out to him through letters. His message was about the power of love over hate.

According to Wilson-Granat, the Frank family and four others spent two years hiding in Nazi German-occupied Amsterdam during World War II. The Franks were discovered in 1944 and sent to concentration camps shortly before the end of the war. Otto was the only member of his family to survive.

 Wilson-Granat, who is also a TEDx speaker, has donated all of her letters from Otto to the University of South Carolina’s Anne Frank Center, an official partner of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. “Some of Cara’s letters from Otto Frank were used by investigators pursuing cold cases to determine who most likely turned in people hiding these families,” said Sara Lebofsky, HRHS vice president for programs. “60 Minutes showcased examples of various cold case scenarios.”

“This program was postponed from last year due to Covid so we’re excited to present it,” Lebofsky said.

The public is invited to attend. To register for the program, go to https://www.highlandsranchhistoricalsociety.org/

The Highlands Ranch Historical Society, a nonprofit organization established in 1991, aims to educate the public about the rich history of Highlands Ranch and to instill pride in Highlands Ranch residents about their community’s historical significance.