How did you get involved in ADL?

“When our children were younger, swastika graffiti appeared on some Jewish homes and a local playground in our town. I remember our son Matt being very frightened by what he saw. I was impressed with how quickly ADL reacted and mobilized to meet with residents, teachers and students to provide them with valuable resources and training to deal with the traumatic incident,” Holli explains. ADL’s support really made a lasting, positive impact on the community and on us,” Ben adds.

What does ADL mean to you?

“ADL’s mission is as critical today as it was 100 years ago. The surprising thing is that while the mission has not changed, the programs have evolved to meet today’s challenges. The A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE® Institute and No Place For Hate® programs teach students and teachers why hate speech is so dangerous and that differences among people should be celebrated not feared. There is information-gathering on terrorist groups that is shared with law enforcement agencies, and there are ADL staff members who continually monitor the internet to identify the activity of hate groups. Yes, the ADL continues to fight anti-Semitism and support Israel, but the breadth of its work reaches way beyond this,” says Ben.

As leaders in the ADL community, how would you advise others to have a local impact in the fight against hate?

ADL is truly committed to creating a better world. We believe that if people knew more about what goes on in this amazing organization, they would be more inclined to contribute. We believe it is important to educate new audiences about the impact of ADL’s programs