The Anti-Defamation League has decided to redirect the total amount of funds contributed to ADL by Donald Trump and his foundation over the years – about $56,000 in all – to fund new anti-bias and anti-bullying education programs across America.
“In the past decade or so, Mr. Trump and his foundation have contributed a total of $56,000 to our organization. These undoubtedly were sincere gifts,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “But in light of the recent campaign, we have decided to redirect the total amount of funds that he contributed to ADL over the years specifically into anti-bias education programs that address exactly the kind of stereotyping and scapegoating that have been injected into this political season.”
In advance of Mr. Trump’s speech to AIPAC – the largest gathering of Jewish American supporters of Israel – on Monday, ADL also called on other groups, philanthropies and nonprofits to consider redirecting charitable funds given to them by Mr. Trump into similar initiatives to combat hate, promote tolerance, and build a stronger American community.
Mr. Greenblatt wrote in Time Ideas that ADL’s decision to redirect those funds came in light of Mr. Trump’s “penchant to slander minorities, slur refugees, dismiss First Amendment protections and cheer on violence” on the campaign trail.
ADL plans to devote $56,000 to expand its nationally renowned No Place for Hate® educational program by enabling schools in 10 regions — New York, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Atlanta, Houston, Denver, San Diego, San Francisco, Arizona and Las Vegas – to increase their anti-bias and anti-bullying work.
“We are taking this step to demonstrate that, even as the campaign has surfaced ugly rhetoric, we can reach higher,” said Mr. Greenblatt. “Even as his campaign has mainstreamed intolerance, we can push back on the hate and evoke our better angels not just with words, but with deeds.”
As a 501c3 nonprofit organization, ADL takes no position on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for office.