(Community Matters) For the last several month’s, I’ve been working on the Anti-Defamation League’s Torch of Liberty dinner committee. ADL stands for fairness and equality for people everywhere in the world and against anti-semitism everywhere. It doesn’t escape me that the American Jewish community was the primary source of financial and legal support for the civil rights movement in the 50s & 60s and are strong supporters of LGBT equality today.
Amy & Kirk Rudy are being honored as this year’s Torch of Liberty recipients – two of our best friends, they do great things for Austin and nationally. James Armstrong & Larry Connelly are also being honored for their gifts to Austin in arts, education, LGBT equality and a list of other philanthropic activities.
Mark Salmanson first invited me to participate in ADL (thank you, Mark). Ever since, Steven and I have made a group of super friends. Most of the people on the executive committee are now dear friends who we dine with, laugh with and learn from.
Wednesday evening, Endeavor Real Estate Group and Whole Foods hosted the Torch of Liberty Dinner’s VIP reception (TOL dinner on Jan 28th – info here, though it is sold out). Our table sponsors joined us: Endeavor and Yigal & Lily Saad extraordinary in their support for the event. Steve Adler & Diane Land, the Austin Post , Austin Ventures, Julie & John Thorton and Jeanne & Mickey Klein immensely generous too. Lots and lots of other very generous sponsors – we’ve broken all Austin records in this economy, a testament to our honorees, the largess of our sponsors and the committee’s hard work – especially Jeff Newberg & Marcia Levy.
Judy Waxman & Lily Saad planned the evening. Marcia Levy is our fundraising maven
Three women who know how to make things happen – in business, community and all over the world
Richard & Judy Berkowitz – Judy the third of the evening’s organizers
Maybe the couple I know less well among this tribe of friends, who we ought to know better. All my intuition is that they are smart and a whole lot of fun.
Kim Hughes, Amy & Kirk Rudy, State Rep Mark Strama
A fierce foursome, all very good friends and important confidants. Amy & Kirk don’t only give money, they give lots of time and elbow grease, and the benefit of two great minds. Very close with Amy for several years; Kirk & I especially so since the presidential primary. I enjoy nothing more than torturing this man who women call Kirkcules, though I’ve never found his Achilles heel. Despite best efforts, he gives back at least as well as I give. With Steven and Amy, we’ve enjoyed great days/weeks together with these two. And, we’re looking forward to even more.
Larry Connelly & James Armstrong
James has been an important philanthropist in Texas for so many years. He and Larry two of Austin’s most generous philanthropists to the arts and arts education – plus too many other organizations to list. Good gosh, also great times with these two over the years – especially one Halloween , one Fredericksburg July 4th party.
Diane Land & Liz McDaniel Watson
Speaking of fierce and fun friends . . . I think Diane needs to join me, Liz and Amy in our pilates sessions; she’d fit right in. It’s way fun.
Yigal Saad & Steve Adler
Steve is our Austin ADL board chair and too has become a very close friend. He is one of a handful of people responsible for the outstanding ballet we have today (Ballet Austin). He (with Diane Land) is bringing that same magic to Austin ADL – we see it in motion everyday. I predict we’ll have one of the nation’s strongest performing, most impactful offices within the next two years. Yigal, Lily’s husband, and a favorite dinner friend & story teller. These two – hubba hubba is all I can say!
Amy Grace Tharp, Doug Ulman, Judy Waxman & Steve Adler
Amy Grace a new friend from St. James and Doug’s SO. Doug, a good friend and Pres/CEO, Lance Armstrong Foundation. It’s been terrific engaging Doug on our committee. Together with Dave Shaw and Michael Feferman (both also new members involved) they’ve added a lot of energy, ideas & gifts, not to mention bringing down the average age.
Martin Cominksy & Shelley Zausmer
Martin is the regional director for ADL in Texas and has really built up the franchise. Shelley the person I’ve gotten to know best through this effort and the woman who’s keeping everything on track, on time and on budget – not an easy feat given so many moving parts, completely new programming and me (sometimes I’m not the easiest collaborator).
Pete & Tomi Winstead
Rachel & Michael Feferman and Peter Cesaro
Michael has come onto the committee and – along with Dave Shaw – has agreed to take on much of the evening’s production. Can’t say enough about their contributions to Jan 28th and preparations. Michael leads social media at 3C Presents; Dave his PR/Branding firm, Russell Shaw.
w/ Shelley
State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez & Chief Art Acevedo
We were filming for the event earlier in the day. I arrived between the sessions for Eddie & Chief Acevedo.
My bad I didn’t get pics of other members of the event committee. The full committee includes: Steve Adler & Diane Land, Judy Berkowitz, Michael Feferman, Marcia Levy, Audrey & Ray Maislin, Lynn Meredith, Jeff Newberg, Amy & Kirk Rudy, Lily Saad, Mark Salmanson, moi, Dave Shaw, Jan Soifer, Robny Sperling, Doug Ulman, Judy Waxman & Shelley Zausmer – one of the best and most fun I’ve ever worked on. thank all
wow, tons of $10k, $5k and $3k sponsors too
Community Matters 