New York, NY, Feb. 1, 2023 … ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) has received a generous $2 million legacy gift commitment from longtime supporter Dr. Kenneth L. Edelson, which will establish the Kenneth L. Edelson, M.D. Endowment Fund, a new pool of funding to ensure ADL’s work supporting partnerships with local law enforcement will continue well into the future.
Dr. Edelson’s bequest was inspired by his mother, Beatrice Edelson, who was one of the pioneering early leaders of B’nai B’rith, ADL’s onetime flagship organization. Beatrice worked to combat prejudice and raise awareness about bias among young students and, in 1957, she was part of a leadership committee of B’nai B’rith women in Brooklyn and Queens that worked together to raise support and awareness for ADL’s work.
In the past Dr. Edelson made a similar generous legacy gift commitment of $1 million in support of ADL’s No Place for Hate programs in the New York region, endowing the New York Region No Place for Hate® Kenneth L. Edelson M.D. Making A Difference Award.
“We are profoundly grateful for Ken’s generous legacy commitment of $2 million for our programs that work directly with law enforcement and educators in communities across the United States,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “His vision and generous support will ensure that ADL’s work in supporting local law enforcement will continue far into the future.”
ADL’s law enforcement programs work to ensure that agencies and personnel at the local, state and federal level understand the threats to vulnerable populations by sharing resources and expertise on extremism. In 2021 the ADL Center on Extremism provided law enforcement with critical intelligence about extremism more than 1,300 times and tracked over 7,300 incidents of hate on ADL’s online, interactive H.E.A.T. Map.
Several years ago Dr. Edelson received the honor of being sworn in by the NYPD as an Honorary Police Surgeon, the highest rank that a civilian physician can achieve within the New York City Police Department. The Honorary Police Surgeon is appointed by the Police Commissioner to serve members of the Police Department by providing medical consultation and expert advice to the sick and injured members and their families.
The ADL National Estate and Gift Planning Department provides individuals and their families the opportunity to leave a legacy that supports ADL and its mission to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and secure justice and fair treatment to all.
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913, its timeless mission is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact. A global leader in combating antisemitism, countering extremism and battling bigotry wherever and whenever it happens, ADL works to protect democracy and ensure a just and inclusive society for all.