More than 350 community leaders and local dignitaries were on hand to pay tribute to Sydney Perry, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, on Tuesday, May 12, as she received the Anti-Defamation League’s Greater New Haven Torch of Liberty Award.

The award was also presented to Anne Tyler Calabresi of Woodbridge and Gloria Graves Holmes of East Haven. The Torch of Liberty Award is presented annually to outstanding citizens whose extraordinary work has helped to strengthen the Greater New Haven community.

Additionally, Interim Regional Director Marji Lipshez-Shapiro was recognized for her 25 years at ADL. The theme for the evening was “Impacting the Next Generation.”

“It truly was an incredible evening,” said Lipshez-Shapiro. “We were so fortunate to be in the presence of three accomplished, amazing women who have done so much for young people in our community. Anne, Gloria and Sydney have strived tirelessly for decades to make New Haven and its surrounding towns a better place, and their acceptance speeches reflected their commitment to that cause. Their inspiring words reminded me why I am as committed as ever to furthering ADL’s mission here in Connecticut: to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.”

CAP: At the ADL award dinner: (l to r) Incoming ADL Regional Board Chair Robyn Teplitzky, Award honorees Gloria Graves Holmes, Anne Tyler Calabresi and Sydney A. Perry. Photo credit: Harold Shapiro.