Their son, Richard Moss, couldn’t help but be impacted by his parents’ loyalty and devotion to ADL’s mission.

“For [George and Ruth], participation in ADL was a lifestyle choice. Much of their social interactions, personal fulfillment, continued education, and opportunities to give back to the community flowed through their ADL service,” Richard explains.

Amid such a rich family history with ADL, it is no surprise that Richard became involved with the organization very early in his life. He fondly recalls meetings at his home as a 4-year-old, when his mother sent him into the living room to count those who wanted dessert. For this role he earned the nickname “The Counter.”

Fast forward a few years later, while attending graduate school, Richard served in the Chicago Office, for then Regional Director Michael Lieberman. This inspiring experience led him to join the Los Angeles Regional Board where he did legal work for ADL, both locally and nationally. Richard was involved early on in setting up what would become The Glass Institute, ADL’s young leadership development program, while serving as a member of the National Commission and NEC (the predecessor to today’s Global Leadership Council), on which he now serves.

Ruth and George’s legacy has extended to a third generation, as they inspired their grandson Jonathan Moss (son of Steven and Janet Moss, and Richard’s nephew), to complete the Glass Institute. Jonathan has continued to further his ADL activities, including serving on the Los Angeles Regional Board.

As for Richard, he is now most concerned in the short term about the risk to our liberal democracy from a variety of threats. And, in the long term, he is interested in figuring out the best narratives to tell the story of the Jewish people to current and future generations.

George and Ruth were dedicated to raising funds for ADL. Like his parents, Richard Moss has included a gift to ADL in his estate plan and encourages others to do the same. Richard says, “Do it. It’s easy. It’s a good message to leave to my heirs, showing them the importance of supporting ADL.”

Without supporters like Richard and his family, ADL’s efforts to secure justice and fair treatment for all would not be possible. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Moss family and to the many families whose hard work and dedication have made ADL what it is today.

Sadly, Ruth passed away in December 2020. Her family has honored her memory and inspired others to support ADL by creating the Ruth Moss Legacy Challenge.

As a fixture on the ADL landscape, Kenneth J. is a unique legacy by his own right. For more than half a century, Kenneth has used his powerful voice on behalf of ADL. In conversations with donors, in articles and letters to the editor, in hundreds of speeches and presentations, and in testimony at congressional hearings, he has explained, amplified and added nuance to ADL’s message.

And now Kenneth is creating another lasting legacy — a gift to ADL in his will.

Kenneth says he owes his long career here to “serendipity.” When he got his first job at ADL, in the research department, he was working toward his PhD in history and had no intention of staying. “More than 50 years later, I’m still here — I never got my PhD.” Over the years, Kenneth has served in many capacities: Director of Middle East Affairs, Director of International Affairs, and now Deputy National Director. On an interim basis at different times, he oversaw the Civil Rights, Marketing and Communications and Education Divisions. He also supervised ADL’s polling of American attitudes toward the Jewish people in America. “We made a major contribution toward an understanding of antisemitism and how much improvement there was over the years. That work, our programs and our efforts on behalf of other communities, gave people a strong sense that ADL was one of the most important organizations in this country.”

Some have referred to Kenneth as ADL’s “one-man think tank.”

Asked for his thoughts about the resurgence of antisemitism in America and around the world today, Kenneth shares: “We’ve made huge progress, but if you understand the nature of antisemitism, you won’t be complacent.” Today, the unleashing of hate speech has resulted in a new antisemitism coming from both the right and the left, where it is couched in criticism of Israel. “Even while we warned about the potential, we hoped that it would never come back in full force. That just means the work of ADL is more important than ever.”

Despite the current resurgence of antisemitism, Kenneth remains an optimist. “I believe in America and the Jewish role in this country, but part of being an optimist is believing in our ability to have an impact on what happens. At ADL, our approach is to avoid partisanship, find allies and stand on principle.”

Today, Kenneth continues to work on behalf of ADL in many contexts. He plans to pursue the work he loves for as long as he can, but when asked to consider his legacy, he says, “I think I had a real voice. When I wrote and spoke, I was articulating the principles and values that made ADL an important organization.” And his legacy will continue into the future: He has included ADL in his estate plans through a bequest in his will. “I am doing it both as appreciation for the wonderful career I’ve had at ADL, and because of the importance of ADL for the Jewish people and American society.”

For Stacy R., it’s all about making a difference. “I don’t want to feel like I just take up space on the planet. I hope that in some way my being here contributes to making the world a better place,” she said. “That’s why I have included ADL in my estate plan.”

Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Stacy wasn’t particularly involved in Jewish life. However, in her early 20s, she decided to go on a trip to Israel. “I wasn’t looking at it as a religious awakening,” she said. “I was just going to see another country.”

“When I arrived in Jerusalem on the eve of Shabbat, got off the bus and walked to the Wall, I burst into tears! It was a total shock to me! That’s when I began to deeply connect with my Jewish heritage.”

A few days later, on top of Masada, she was approached about making a gift to the organization, with which she traveled. “At that moment, I thought, I’ll give you everything I own! I was so moved,” Stacy said. It was the beginning of her life as a philanthropist.

As a young professional living and working in Washington, she heard that a new U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum was being built. “I volunteered immediately, and they put me in the Communications Department, because that was my background. Working to help create and open the museum was the most rewarding job I ever had, even though I didn’t get paid.”

A few years later, Stacy moved to South Florida. Missing her work with the museum, she began looking for other ways to get involved and started going to ADL’s meetings for young professionals. ADL’s work in Holocaust and anti-bias education programs aligned with her personal mission to fight hate.

ADL asked her to participate in the Steinberg Leadership Institute training, which gave her a deeper connection to ADL’s work. Afterwards, she served on the Civil Rights and International Affairs Committees and helped plan a conference on cyberbullying. She was asked to join the regional board and then the executive committee. On the national level, she is an Associate National Commissioner.

In addition to her work with ADL, Stacy volunteers with nonprofits that keep the memory of the Holocaust alive. “I don’t want the people who were murdered and those who survived to be forgotten. It’s important to keep their stories alive.”

In creating her estate plans, she included ADL and other nonprofits to make sure that the legacy of her contributions at ADL would continue. “To me, most of the world’s problems are caused by hate. ADL is the premier organization fighting against hate and having a real impact.”

A resident of Florida, originally from New York and New Jersey, he said, “I congratulate ADL on the past 100 years of success, and I want to ensure even greater success for ADL at the start of its second century.”

“I decided that a $1 million gift to ADL would be a personally meaningful gift that comes from both my heart and my finances. I chose an endowment gift because I was thrilled that it will generate 5 percent of the $1 million, or $50,000, to ADL every year, forever!”

Marty and his wife Aviva, of Connecticut, decided to make their gift in the form of a bequest intent and gift of cash.

Marty has been an active ADL leader since the mid-1980s. He is a member of ADL’s National Advisory Committee, a Trustee of the ADL Foundation, and served as Co-Chair of the ADL Centennial Committee.

“It is a rare and special occasion for ADL to have existed for 100 years, one that we should view as a blessing and that we should cherish and utilize as a catalyst to move this important organization forward into the future.”

Allen chose a charitable gift annuity as a way to give because it’s a way that both paid him an income and benefited ADL.

Before his passing, he told us, “ADL is a proactive organization that I hope will diminish hostility and antisemitism, replacing it with respect and understanding. The gifts that I give to them can be used for this purpose. I can’t do that, but they can.”

ADL is grateful for Dr. Allen K.’s generosity during his lifetime, which will live on for years to come.

After the war, they were active in a self-established local society of individuals who had immigrated from the same geographic area, including some who had survived the Holocaust. Thus, from an early age, he was acutely aware of the scourge of antisemitism. Throughout his life, he felt that what had happened in Germany could happen again. In 2019, he was very disturbed by the increase in antisemitic incidents documented by ADL. For this reason, he decided to make a generous contribution to the organization upon his death, which occurred in March 2020. He asked that the gift be used to further the organization’s educational activities to end antisemitism.