ADL Connecticut Regional Director Gary Jones, Avi and Liz Kaner, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Laurie and Jeffrey Gross, and ADL Connecticut Regional Board Chair Mitch Weseley. Photo credit: Harold Shapiro

On Sunday, Nov. 2, close to 250 guests, including Senator Richard Blumenthal and Weston First Selectwoman Gayle Weinstein, came together to honor Liz and Avi Kaner and Laurie and Jeffrey Gross at the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) Upper Fairfield County Award Reception. The four community leaders, all residents of Westport, received ADL’s Distinguished Community Leadership Award at the event held in Stamford.

At the event, Weinstein, who received the award in 2012, narrated the film titled “How Does Hate Begin?” which illustrated a variety of ways in which ADL combats hate in Fairfield County and throughout the state.

In his remarks, Blumenthal highlighted some of the work ADL does locally, nationally and internationally to combat bias and bigotry.

“It was an exceptional evening,” said ADL Connecticut Regional Director Gary Jones. “We are proud of the strong relationship we have with the towns comprising Upper Fairfield County and the support we have from our constituents in those towns.”

Just prior to the award reception, Jones announced that he would be stepping down as the region’s ADL director. (For the full story, see p. 5.)