Mark Schuster Honored with Anti-Defamation League's Torch of Liberty Award

SEATTLE, Oct. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Mark R. Schuster was honored at the Pacific Northwest Anti-Defamation League's No Place for Hate Luncheon on Tuesday with the prestigious Torch of Liberty Award for his community activism and commitment to civil rights.

The Torch of Liberty Award is presented to an individual or organization who has personified in word and in deed the two pillared mission of the Anti-Defamation League: to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all people. It is presented to outstanding citizens with a tradition of community service whose extraordinary leadership and philanthropy have strengthened their respective communities. Past recipients include: Senator Ed Murray, Tully's Coffee, The Seattle Times, Mary Gates, and then Attorney General Christine Gregoire.

Mark Schuster is the Founder and CEO of The Schuster Group, a real estate investment, development, and merchant banking firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington. He has been involved with the Anti-Defamation League for over a decade and was the founding sponsor of the No Place for Hate initiative in Seattle. He is the former chairman of the Pacific Northwest Regional Anti-Defamation League, a current member of the National Executive Committee and a national commissioner of the League. Mark also currently serves on a number of regional and national Boards and committees for organizations such as: UNICEF, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and Aviation High School. He served on the Board of MAZON-A Jewish Response to Hunger for over 9 years. He is the author of the nationally-acclaimed business memoir, Lofty Pursuits—Repairing the World One Building at a Time; the recipient of the 2011 Eric Hoffer Book Award and the 2011 Reader Views Reviewer's Choice Award.

Mr. Schuster received heartwarming well wishes and congratulations from hundreds of attendees and supporters of the ADL, including past award recipient, Governor Christine Gregoire who congratulated Mark and stated, "Mr. Schuster's deep commitment to sustainability and social justice is truly inspiring, and I know his visionary leadership and impassioned advocacy will continue to benefit our communities for generations to come."

The Anti-Defamation League is the world's leading organization fighting discrimination through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry. For nearly 100 years, the ADL has worked tirelessly to protect the civil rights of all individuals, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or ability levels.

SOURCE The Schuster Group