The award reception and gala dinner is one of ADL's premier annual events in Connecticut, attracting prominent citizens from Upper Fairfield County. The co-chairs of the event are notable leaders of the Upper Fairfield County community: Ilene and Alan Frost, Elizabeth and Michael Kessler, Sharon and Andy Moss, Beth and Jay Rand, Melissa and Alon Shein, and Lissa and Tom Spignesi. The evening will also feature a program highlighting ADL's innovative work addressing cyberbullying.
The commitment to public service and the Upper Fairfield County community demonstrated by Linda and Michael Gordon and Pam and Ken Olson epitomizes the Anti-Defamation League's values and the ideals represented by the Distinguished Community Leadership Award.
Michael Gordon is CEO of Group Gordon, a strategic communications and public relations firm, and Linda is Managing Partner of Saddle Rock Partners, an investment management firm. Whether helping needy families in Israel through the Jewish Opportunities Institute, serving the Jewish communities of Westport and throughout Connecticut in leadership capacities with ADL, UJA-Federation, Hadassah, the Conservative Synagogue, and AIPAC, or contributing to the greater community through the Westport Democratic Town Committee and the Penn Fund, Linda and Michael's dedication to helping others despite the demands of their busy professional commitments is evident in all they do.
Pam and Ken Olson contribute immeasurably to the Westport community and beyond. Ken is Founder and CEO of POKO Partners, LLC, a socially responsible real estate company whose mission is to create high quality, affordable and mixed income housing in Connecticut and throughout the Northeast. The Olsons' commitment to the Jewish community is demonstrated by their deep involvement and leadership at Temple Israel, and their work with AIPAC, ARZA (the American Reform Zionist Association), and Hadassah. Serving the greater community as well, Pam is actively involved in the PTA of her children's school, theatre arts and music programs in the area, and Ken is dedicated to the revitalization of urban areas and communities, underwriting arts programs and charter school scholarships, and as President of the Norwalk Symphony.
Robert Orkand, Rabbi of Temple Israel and a prior ADL honoree, noted that the event "is a must-attend gala that brings together hundreds of leading citizens in the Westport, Weston, Wilton and Norwalk communities to recognize ADL's vital efforts to combat bigotry and discrimination against all. ADL and this year's honorees deserve our generous support on Oct. 25."
For more information, contact Janet Magid, Associate Development Director at (203) 288-6500 x313 or jmagid@adl.org.
The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is devoted to fighting anti-Semitism, racism and other forms of bigotry, building bridges of understanding and safeguarding our liberties.