ADL Houston

(Community Matters) Celebrated equality, fairness & justice at the Anti-Defamation League’s Houston Torch of Liberty Awards Wednesday night with Jan Soifer, Adrienne Donato, Kirk Rudy, Jeff Newberg, Louvon Harris, Tiffany Taylor & Victor McDonald (our table).

The mission of ADL is to stop the defamation of the Jewish people, to secure justice and fair treatment to all citizens alike.

David & Rochelle Merfish Jacobson

Rochelle was recognized as this year’s Torch of Liberty recipient, the highest honor bestowed by the ADL on extraordinary community leaders and philanthropists. Rochelle’s a political colleague; we spent some time together in DC recently. She’s a ubiquitous philanthropist in Houston, funding all sorts of good work – especially through ADL and Planned Parenthood.

Louvon Harris & Tiffany Taylor

Louvon is James Bryd Jr’s’ sister, Tiffany his niece. James is the man chained to a truck and dragged through the East Texas streets until he was dead. He is one of the two namesakes of the Matthew Shepard & James Bryd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Louvon and I met in DC last week at the White House ceremony celebrating the new legislation. I’m so excited she’s sending me a copy of her mother’s book, Hope Amidst Despair, A Grieving Mother Speaks.

Jan Soifer & Victor McDonald

Jan’s a dear friend with a heart as big as a pumpkin. She’s also a colleague on the Austin ADL executive committee. I sat next to Victor, first time to meet. He’s a businessman, a former financial worker. Though, after the Enron implosion, he and a friend launched an ice cream truck business. While driving the truck near Tomball, he was attacked and beaten by three white supremacists. He told me the ADL helped him imensely.

Many thanks to Stacey Fields, David Goldstein, Martin Cominsky & Scott Atlas for their gracious hospitality. Kirk & I chatted all the way back; the drive felt like only 30 minutes.

Can’t wait to celebrate Kirk & Amy with the Austin ADL Torch of Liberty Award and James Armstrong & Larry Connelly with our Humanitarian Award on January 28th at the Four Seasons. Victoria Hentrich and David Kurio on board to help produce the event. We’re planning a very fun after party too, including good friends who can’t make the dinner.

Shelley Zausmer my co-chair for the event. Steve Adler our board chair and spiritual leader. Marcia Levy in charge of development with Jeff Newberg reaching out to supporters and friends to join us. Lynn Meredith, Marc Winkelman, Alexa Wesner & Adrienne Donato helping there too. Dave Shaw, Michael Feferman & Judy Waxman in charge of messaging and public relations. Doug Ulman, Jan Soifer, Diane Land, Audrey & Ray Maislin, Mark Salmanson, Julie Thornton, Lily Saad, Robyn Spertus and Judy Berkowitz also on the event committee. Total fun & all rock stars. Event shouldn’t be missed.