Special to the Ledger

FAIRFIELD – The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) will honor Liz and Avi Kaner, and Laurie and Jeffrey Gross, at the organization’s 2014 Upper Fairfield County Award Reception and Centennial Gala, 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2, in Westport.

Liz and Avi Kaner

Residents of Westport for 18 years, the Kaners are active in numerous philanthropic causes locally and in Israel. A past president of the Westport Hadassah, Liz Kaner is an active member of AIPAC’s New Leadership Network. A graduate of Tufts University, she holds a Master’s in public administration from New York University. Avi Kaner is the second selectman in Westport, having previously served as the town’s Board of Finance chair. He is co-owner of the Morton Williams Supermarket chain in New York City and was previously a principal with the consulting firm Booz, Allen & Hamilton. The Kaners are the parents of three children.

Laurie and Jeffrey Gross

Like the Kaners, Laurie and Jeffrey Gross have a strong commitment to community involvement. Laurie Gross served for 20 years as the director of community relations for the Jewish Center for Community Services (JCCS) of Eastern Fairfield County. She served on the Fairfield Holocaust Committee and the Connecticut Holocaust Committee and is a member of the National Board of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. She is currently the chair of United Way’s FEMA Board, secretary of the Board of Directors at Action for Bridgeport Community Development (ABCD), and chair of the Board of Neighborhood Studios, an art and music program for inner-city youth in Bridgeport.

Dr. Jeffrey Gross is a past co-chair of the Jewish Federation of Eastern Fairfield County. He also served as chair of the Torah Campaign of Congregation Beth El in Fairfield and is currently the longest serving member of the Connecticut Multiple Sclerosis Society. Chair of the neurology division at St. Vincent Medical Center, he has academic appointments at Quinnipiac University and Yale University medical schools. Residents of Westport, the Gross’ are the parents of two children.

For more information on the awards reception, contact Janet Magid at (203) 288-6500 x313 or jmagid@adl.org.