In 1913, the Anti-Defamation League was formed to combat prejudice, stereotyping, anti-Semitism and other forms of hate. In some respects that seems a relatively short time ago, but looking back on what has happened in the world since then, the years have been trying and full of tragedy.
We would like to think that the world has progressed, but as speakers at the 100th anniversary dinner noted Tuesday evening, the bombing at the Boston Marathon indicates there is still a long way to go.
Steve Farber, (board) left, Marcia and Dick Robinson (board)
“Imagine a world without hate” is ADL’s theme for the Centennial year. There are saintly supporters who give to their fullest to contribute to that goal .
The Distinguished Community Service Award went to Jordon and Essie Perlmutter, who have been leaders in the Denver community for more than 50 years. They are staunch supporters of ADL and have received numerous awards for their unwaivering commitment and support for Denver hospitals, financial institutions and religious organizations. Mr. Perlmutter spearheaded the building and raised $14 million for Shalom Cares, a residence facility for senior citizens.
The Distinguished Corporate Leader Award went to Wells Fargo, and the honor was accepted by Executive Vice President Gary Lutz. Wells Fargo sponsored ADL’s “No Place for Hate” initiative, and they have contributed $3.7 million in Colorado alone and tens of thousands of volunteer hours to Colorado communities.
Also recognized during the evening were the generous gifts of $1 million each from Robert B Sturm and Gay and Barry Curtiss-Lusher. Mr. Curtiss-Lusher is also serving as ADL’s national chairman, and has received accolades and highest regards for his work around the globe, including visits with President Obama and the Pope to promote ADL’s mission.
Eight former and present board members also gave reflections on their perspective of ADL’s important mission and their time to help acheive it.
We can only hope that the next centennial celebration can be dubbed “we remembered when there was hate.” But for now, we thank those who contribute their incredible support so that we can imagine that time.
For more information about how you can become involved, log on to www.adl.org.
Buni Dinner, left, National Chair Barry Curtiss-Lusher and Larry Sigman
Loren and Laura Knaster, left, with Steven and Debra Weinstein
Regional Director Scott Levin, left, Regional Board Chair Andrea Shpall and National Chair Barry Curtiss-Lusher
Event Co-Chairs Dr. Marc Reissner, left, Sharon Schonhaut and James Kurtz-Phelan
Distinguished Corporate Leader Award recipient Gary Lutz, on behalf of Wells Fargo
Distinguished Community Service Award recipients Jordon and Essie Perlmutter
Honorees Jordy and Essie Perlmutter and Gary Lutz of Wells Fargo
Honorees, chairs and staff: Dr. Marc Reissner, left, Sharon Schonhaut, Jordon Perlmutter, Gary Lutz, Essie Perlmutter, Scott Levin, Andrea Shpall, Barry Curtiss-Lusher, James Kurtz-Phelan
Joyce Zeff chats with Doug Seserman
Scott Levin chats with James Kurtz-Phelan after the program
Dr. Marc Reissner, event co-chair, gives closing remarks
Essie Perlmutter, Barry Curtiss-Lusher, Jordon Perlmutter and Scott Levin
Honoree Essie Perlmutter gives remarks
Essie and Jordon Perlmutter accept the Distinguished Community Service Award
Honoree Essie Perlmutter is congratulated by James Kurtz-Phelan
Event Co-Chair James Kurtz-Phelan gets ready to bestow the Distinguished Community Service Award
Gary Lutz makes a point
Gary Lutz, vice president for Wells Fargo, accepts the Distinguished Corporate Leader Award
Event Co-Chair Sharon Schonhaut gets ready to present the Distinguished Corporate Leader Award
National Chair Barry Curtiss-Lusher talks to attendees
Barry Curtiss-Lusher on stage with Andrea Shpall
Barry and Gay Curtiss-Lusher smile as they are recognized for their $1 million gift to ADL
Melinda Quiat comments on her time with ADL
Stuart Pack reflects on his service with ADL
Clyde McKenzie talks about being on the ADL board
Gary Lozow comments about his service to ADL
Karen Flaxer reflects on her board service
Ali Brodie talks about her board participation
Larry Atler talks about serving on the ADL board
Roz Ash reflects on her time on the ADL board
Andrea Shpall on stage with former and current board members, ready to give reflections.
Gay Curtiss-Lusher chats with a supporter
Guests chatting during dinner
Sam Pluss, Eddie Robinson and Sheila Bugdanowitz during dinner
Sam Pluss talking with Eddie Robinson
Celeste Grynberg chatting with guests
Doug Seserman of Allied Jewish Federaration (standing) talking with Neil Oberfeld (board)
Friends chatting
Scott Levin greeting guests
Rich Saul (board) talking with Jeff Kraus
Lisa and Shell Cook chat with Cassie Perlmutter
Regional Board Chair Andrea Shpall, left, honoree Jordon Perlmutter, Regional Director Scott Levin, honoree Essie Perlmutter and National Chair Barry Curtiss-Lusher
National Chair Barry Curtiss-Lusher, left, board member Karen Flaxer, honoree Gary Lutz and Regional Director Scott Levin
Celeste Grynberg, left, Yana Vishnitsky of JFS and Joyce Zeff (board)
Charles Goldstein, left, Debra Weinstein (board) and Andrea Goldstein
Andrea and Jack Hyatt
Regional Director Scott Levin addresses the audience
Rabbi Bruce Dollin gave the invocation and Ha-Motzi
Alice and Leonard Perlmutter
Regional Board Chair Andrea Shpall welcomed everyone.
Regional Board Chair Andrea Shpall, left, and Nancy Alterman
Paula Herzmark chats with Dan Stenersen
John Chanin and Holly Stein Sollod (board)
Bob Coombe, left, Joy Burns and Dan Ritchie (honorary committee)
Lisa Soicher, left, Andrea Hyatt and Elaine Asarch
Joanne Kleinstein, left, Marie Herzog and Doug Antonoff (board)
Art Seiden (former board), left, and Regional Director Scott Levin
Joyce Lozow (former board), left, Ida Goldberger and Sandy Vinnik (honorary committee)
Distinguished Community Service Award: Jordon and Essie Perlmutter; Distinguished Corporate Leader Award: Wells Fargo
Event Chairs:
Sharon Schonhaut, James Kurtz-Phelan, Dr. Marc Reissner
Executive Director:
Regional Director: Scott Levin; National Director: Abraham H Foxman
Committee Members:
DINNER COMMITTEE: Jim Kurtz-Phelan (co-chair), Dr. Marc Reissner (co-chair), Sharon Schonhaut (co-chair), Diana Zeff Anderson, Susan Brody, Lynn Cooper, Candy Figa, Karen Flaxer, Andy Gurrentz, Gil Hermann, David Ickovic, Adrienne Leonard, Steve Levine, Gary Rand, Linda Schatz, Ean Seeb, Steve Shapiro, Holly Stein Sollod, Lee Spitz; HONORARY COMMITTEE: Irv and Roz Ash, Bobbie Carr, Lisa and Shell Cook, Vicki and David Dansky, Jeannie and John Fuller, Jerry and Lorna Gray, Suzie Grazi and Marvin Stone, Debby Herz, Leland Huttner, Walt Imhoff, Carol and Harvey Karsh, Linda Kornfeld, Robert and Robyn Loup, Sue Miller Cohen, Julie and Brent Morse, Sister Lydia M Pena S.L., Lisa and Jonathan Perlmutter, Lisa and Jay Perlmutter, Dan Ritchie, Larry and Susan Siegel, Debbie and Don Silversmith, Marshall and Carol Tobin, Sandy Vinnik, Layah Wolpa
Staff:
Scott Levin, regional director; Joyce Rubin, senior associate director; Shayna Alexander, associate director; Eve Powell, director of development; Allyson Hakala, assistant director of development; Paula Brown, project director; Mary Groote, administrative assistant
Invocation:
Rabbi Bruce Dollin
Welcome:
Andrea Shpall, regional board chair
Speaker:
Regional Director Scott Levin; National Chair Barry Curtiss-Lusher
Sponsors:
The Curtiss-Lusher family, Don Scott, Joyce Zeff, Wells Fargo, Bain Family Foundation, Gold Family LLC, the Gold, Michelson, Perry-Rest, Alpert families, Lazarus Israel Opportunities Fund, Micky and Louann Miller, the Perlmutter family, Jordon and Essie Perlmutter
Attire:
Business
Ticket Prices:
$300
Board of Directors:
National chair: Barry Curtiss-Lusher; Andrea Shpall, regional chair; Diana Zeff Anderson, Douglas Antonoff, Stephen Arent, Mark Arlen, Lawrence Atler, Elizabeth Aybar, Adam Berger, Rabbi Joe Black, Justin Borus, Alissa Brodie, David Brody, Susan Brody, Stephen Burg, Daniel Calisher, Sara-Jane Cohen, William Cohen, Barry Curtiss-Lusher, Gay Curtiss-Lusher, Fred Davine, Lee Davis, Albert Dinner, Steven Farber, Kenneth Feiler, Dan Feiner, Candace Cole Figa, Karen Flaxer, Craig Fleishman, David Fogel, Daniel Foster, Audrey Fishman Franklin, Peggy Goldman, Norman Gray, Andrew Gurrentz, Steven Gutterman, David Hauptman, Beth Hendrix, Gilbert Hermann MD, Peggy Hermann, Debra Herz, Gareth Heyman, Arlene Hirschfeld, Pamela Hirschman, David Ickovic, Samuel Jonas, Leslie Karotkin, Rob Klugman, James Kurtz-Phelan, Rachel Kurtz-Phelan, Adrienne Leonard, Bradley Levin, Scott Levin, Steven Levine, Marvin Levy, Samuel Levy, Jordan Linkow, Jeffrey Litman, Gary Lozow, Alison May, Kristin McCandless, Clyde McKenzie, Dan McKenzie, Laura Merage, Peter Nadel, Neil Oberfeld, Stuart Pack, John Plotkin, Melinda Quiat, Gary Rand, Michelle Reiff, Marc Reissner DDS, Rabbi Richard Rheins, Richard Robinson, Monica Rusenbluth, Jeffrey Sandman, Rich Saul, Linda Schatz, Sharon Schonhaut, Ean Seeb, Steven Shapiro, Larry Sigman, Robert Silverberg, Andrew Snyder, Holly Stein Sollod, Lee Spitz, Karen Steinhauser, Sheldon Steinhauser, Jay Taussig, Jennifer Taussig, Ruth Toltz, Debra Weinstein, Matt Weiss, Joyce Zeff