ADL Hosts Tribute to Justin Ehrenwerth and Recognizes the Justin Reid Ehrenwerth Community Impact Award
Type: News
David Ehrenwerth (left) and Steven Irwin (right) at the ADL event.
On October 21, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) hosted an Insider Briefing event featuring a special tribute in memory of Justin Ehrenwerth, former ADL South Central Regional Board Member, honoring his lasting contributions. In late 2023, the Jewish Healthcare Foundation established the Justin Reid Ehrenwerth Community Impact Award in memory of Justin’s life work and legacy and the Award will be made annually to recognize a significant nonprofit organization in his honor which fosters Justin’s values. The first Award, recognized during the event, was a $50,000 grant to the Anti-Defamation League's Cleveland Chapter, homage to the great dedication and appreciation Ehrenwerth held for ADL’s work.
A true renaissance man, Ehrenwerth was an internationally recognized expert in coastal policy and environmental justice, and he held major legal and policy leadership positions in both the U.S. Federal Government and the non-profit sector. His untimely death occurred in 2023 when he was 44. The tribute at the event included remarks from his father, David H. Ehrenwerth, longtime Board member of JHF; and Steven Irwin, chair of ADL’s Cleveland regional office, co-chair of the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative, and a longtime JHF Board member; and a video tribute featuring the many regional and national leaders impacted by Justin.
Moving forward, the Justin Reid Ehrenwerth Community Impact Award will be administered by a selection committee consisting of members of the Ehrenwerth family and their designees, and they will annually select an organization to recognize for their work with an award amount determined by the committee.
The event also featured a fireside chat between Rabbi David Wolpe, ADL Rabbinic Fellow, and Kelly Fishman, ADL Regional Director.