Newark, NJ, December 18, 2018 … ADL today announced that it honored the Director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness with the 2018 ADL Making a Difference Award at its Annual New Jersey Securing Justice Awards Dinner, on Monday, December 17 in Newark.

The ADL Making a Difference Award was established to honor and recognize an individual or group’s contributions to ADL’s mission of ‘securing justice and fair treatment to all’.

“Director Maples has made great strides in connecting communities of faith with each other and with law enforcement, bridging gaps in communication before emergency situations happen so that the New Jersey community can work together instead of individually before calamity strikes,” said Evan R. Bernstein, Director of ADL’s New York/New Jersey Regional Office. “For these reasons, we are thrilled to honor Jared Maples as he continues to serve as an inspiration for our community.”

Nancy K. Baron-Baer, Director of ADL’s Philadelphia Region, which serves southern New Jersey said, “Director Maples has earned the admiration of many, chief among them ADL, by continuing to lead by example through his tactful management of the New Jersey Law Enforcement and Intelligence Community and the collaboration he has built with local communities.”

“The New Jersey community feels more secure and interconnected through Director Maples’ efforts,” said Ross A. Pearlson, Advisory Board Chair for ADL’s New Jersey Region. “They embody not only the values of the award but, without any doubt, those of ADL as an organization.”

“I am truly honored to receive the 2018 ADL Making A Difference Award,” said Jared Maples, Director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. “The relationship between my Office and the ADL was born in the spirit of collaboration. It flourished due to our organizations’ mutual goal of striving to make our communities safer, stronger, and more resilient.  I am happy to say that together we will continue to make that goal a reality and ensure that there is no place for hate in New Jersey.”

ADL is a leading anti-hate organization. Founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of anti-Semitism and bigotry, its timeless mission is to protect the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all. Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of hate with the same vigor and passion. ADL is the first call when acts of anti-Semitism occur. A global leader in exposing extremism, delivering anti-bias education and fighting hate online, ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate. More at www.adl.org.