The Mountain States Regional Office of the Anti-Defamation League announced at its Centennial Dinner that two Colorado donors have made $1 million Centennial gifts to ADL.

Denver businessman Robert B. Sturm dedicated his gift to fund ADL’s young leadership program, to be known now as the Robert B. Sturm Mountain States Leadership Fellows Program.  The Robert B. Sturm Mountain States Leadership Fellows Program will allow promising young adults selected through a competitive process to receive education and training to equip them with tools to demonstrate leadership in the fight against prejudice.  Sturm was the longtime funder of ADL’s regional Youth Leadership Mission, which took local high school students to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to study the consequences of hate.  Hundreds of students from diverse backgrounds participated in that program over 13 years.

“ADL is deeply appreciative of the support and generosity of Bob Sturm over the years,” said Regional Director Scott L. Levin.  “His Centennial gift will allow us to develop tomorrow’s leaders in our work toward a world without hate.”

The second Centennial gift is from Barry and Gay Curtiss-Lusher, longtime ADL Board members and leaders.  Barry Curtiss-Lusher currently serves as ADL’s National Chair.  The Curtiss-Lusher Family has provided generous sponsorship of ADL’s annual Governor’s Holocaust Remembrance Program, joined by Michael and Debbie Feiner and the Feiner Family Foundation, who also provided major gifts to sponsor the program.  “Barry and Gay are among our most dedicated and valuable leaders,” said Levin.  “We are grateful not only for this gift, but for the time and energy they have committed to ADL and its mission over many years.”

The gifts were announced at ADL’s Centennial Dinner on May 7, which also honored Essie and Jordon Perlmutter with ADL’s Distinguished Community Service Award.  The dinner featured remarks from ADL current and past Board members who have served over various decades, including Roz Ash, Larry Atler, Ali Brodie, Karen Flaxer, Gary Lozow, Clyde McKenzie, Stuart Pack and Melinda Quiat.  At the event, ADL also presented Wells Fargo with its Distinguished Corporate Leader Award.

ADL is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding in 1913, with the theme “Imagine a World Without Hate.”