Courtesy: Michael Thad Carter for L Style G Style Magazine

Kirk and Amy Rudy to be Honored with 2010 Austin Torch of Liberty Award

Date: October 20, 2009

The Austin Area Council of the Anti-Defamation League's (ADL's) Southwest Region has announced it will honor Kirk and Amy Rudy with the organization's 2010 Austin Torch of Liberty Award on January 28.

The award is given every other year to a community leader, leaders or organization that exemplify a commitment to promoting respect, counteracting hatred and bigotry, and supporting fair treatment for all citizens.

Both Kirk and Amy Rudy have been involved with ADL for several years.  Kirk Rudy is a Founding Principal of Endeavor Real Estate Group, one of the largest commercial real estate firms in Central Texas.  He gives much of his time to Austin community organizations, including the Long Center for the Performing Arts, the Austin Area Urban League, the Jewish Community Association of Austin, and the Austin American Israel Public Affairs Committee Council.

Amy Rudy spends most of her time raising the family's four children, Ellie, Haylie, Alex and Sam, but she also has devoted substantial energy to a number of community causes.  They include Ballet Austin and an arts festival called Fusebox, on whose boards she has served. She has worked for Equality Texas, Atticus Circle, supported AIDS Walk Austin and the Hill Country Ride for AIDS.  She also founded several software and technology-based companies, including ModelOffice, Inc., and ibooks.com.

"Kirk and Amy Rudy help provide the leadership spark that is driving the next generation of Austin professionals to care about, identify opportunities for, and give support to their community," says ADL Austin Council Chair Steve Adler.  "The Rudys show all of us what it means to be meaningfully involved and, in doing so, they teach us what a difference a couple can make."

James Armstrong and Larry Connelly also will be honored at the Austin Torch of Liberty Dinner with the Raymond and Audrey Maislin Humanitarian Award.  The award goes to individuals or organizations that further greater harmony and cooperation in the community.  Both Armstrong and Connelly have served on many Austin boards including the Austin Lyric Opera, and Zachary Scott Theatre.  They also have supported Hospice Austin, Project Transitions, Safeplace, AIDS Services of Austin, Ballet Austin, Habitat for Humanity, the Austin Museum of Art, and the Long Center for the Performing Arts.

For more information on Austin's Torch of Liberty Dinner, call the Southwest Regional Office at 713-627-3490, or the Austin ADL Office at 512-249-7960.