The 2019 Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion Ceremony

2019 HONOREES

PETER AND BOBBY FARRELLY ACCLAIMED FILMMAKERS

THE RUDERMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION The Rudermans followed the pattern of many philanthropic families—starting with generous check-writing at the kitchen table and quickly moving into strategic investment. Founder and successful businessman, Morton E. Ruderman, had long been giving back to the Jewish community in Boston. In the early 2000s, Mort decided to make a major gift to local Jewish day schools. When they learned about the absence of children with disabilities in their classrooms, the family felt this systematic exclusion was an affront to their Jewish values. They agreed to focus on correcting this injustice and from the beginning understood their commitment to the inclusion of children and adults with disabilities as a social justice imperative.

Mort tapped his oldest son, Attorney Jay Ruderman, to lead the Foundation. Jay’s experience with civil rights issues enabled him immediately to understand the disability community as a socially, economically, and politically excluded and segregated class.

This is the assumption from which he leads the Foundation and the fundamental perspective we hold today: disability rights are civil rights.

MISSION The Ruderman Family Foundation believes that inclusion and understanding of all people is essential to a fair and flourishing community. Guided by our Jewish values, we advocate for and advance the inclusion of people with disabilities throughout our society; strengthen the relationship between Israel and the American Jewish Community; and model the practice of strategic philanthropy worldwide. We operate as a non-partisan strategic catalyst in cooperation with government, private sectors, civil society, and philanthropies.

ABOUT THE AWARD Each year, the foundation presents the Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion to an individual or individuals who have made an extraordinary contribution to the inclusion of people with disabilities. The Award was named after Mort Ruderman, the founder of the Ruderman Family Foundation. He was a successful entrepreneur, mentor and proud family man who saw his success as the result of help he received from others and was therefore passionate about providing opportunities for others.

The 2014 recipient of the Award was Dr. Michael Stein, Visiting Professor at Harvard Law School. The 2015 recipient was Ari Ne’eman, President and co-founder of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network and an advisor to the White House. The 2016 recipient was Senator Tom Harkin, former U.S. Senator and proponent of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ADA Amendments Act. The 2017 recipient was Marlee Matlin, Academy Award winner and long-time inclusion proponent in Hollywood and beyond.

The 2018 recipient was Michael Phelps, the most decorated swimmer of all time, in recognition of his advocacy for people with disabilities and the sharing of his own journey with mental health.

2019 HONOREES

Peter and Bobby Farrelly The Farrelly Brothers are known for making comedy classics. They’ve worked with many of entertainment's most talented actors and comedians, but what people may not realize is that throughout their careers they’ve consistently cast actors with disabilities. In addition to their commitment to inclusion in media, they have also been longtime supporters of The Special Olympics and Best Buddies.

Peter and Bobby were raised in Cumberland, Rhode Island, by their mother Mariann, a nurse practitioner, and their father, Dr. Robert “Docky” Farrelly. Bobby went on to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on a hockey scholarship, while Peter graduated from Providence College before receiving an MFA degree in creative writing from Columbia University.

The brothers made their directorial debut in 1994 with Dumb and Dumber. Since then, the duo has collaborated on nearly 20 film and television projects including Kingpin, There’s Something About Mary, Me, Myself & Irene, Shallow Hall, Stuck on You, Fever Pitch, The Ringer, Hall Pass, Dumb & Dumber To, Loudermilk, and the upcoming Quibi series, The Now. While the majority of their work has been a collaborative effort, they have always supported one another in their solo endeavors. Bobby has produced several projects, including the Emmy-nominated documentary, The Lost Son of Havana. Last year, Peter released his first dramatic film, Green Book, which earned him two Academy Awards and two Golden Globes, including Best Picture.

RUDERMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION PRESIDENT

Jay Ruderman Jay Ruderman has focused his life’s work on seeking social justice by advocating for people with disabilities worldwide, and educating Israeli leaders on the American Jewish Community. As President of the Ruderman Family Foundation, his ambitious approach has led the Foundation to become a leader in inclusion and disability rights advocacy both nationally and in Israel.

Jay’s emphasis on philanthropy has been instrumental in the Foundation creating programs around the world, raising awareness

on social media and the creation of the Foundation’s often cited White Papers. He has never shied away from controversy, consistently challenging Hollywood and those in power to push issues forward.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Jay’s career began in law as an Assistant District Attorney before enlisting in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), becoming the Liaison between the IDF and Diaspora Jewry. After his service in the IDF, he became the Leadership Director for AIPAC in Israel. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Organization on Disability and the University of Haifa, and previously served on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Funders Network and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.

Jay graduated from Brandeis University with honors and received his J.D. from Boston University School of Law. He lives in Boston with his wife, Shira, and their four children.

MASTER OF CEREMONIES

Zuri Hall Zuri Hall is an Emmy Award winning TV personality, currently seen on NBC’s Access Hollywood where she co-hosts the new half hour All Access and works as a correspondent on Access Hollywood and Access Daily. Zuri can also be seen on NBC's prime time summer series, American Ninja Warrior, as the new sideline reporter. Previously, Zuri could be seen across all E! Entertainment platforms -- where she was an E! News correspondent; Co-Host of What the Fashion on

Snapchat Discover; and creator, host & co-producer of What's Good with Zuri Hall on Instagram, an E! News original series that takes a bite-size deep-dive into pop culture, that celebrate and explore diversity in Hollywood.

In 2017, Zuri's on-air work helped E! News earn a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Entertainment News Program. Zuri serves up personality packed with energy, sass & insight on E! News and E!’s Live from the Red Carpet specials -- covering star-studded red carpets that include the Olympic Games, The Emmys, The Grammys, The Golden Globes, and even The Academy Awards. She has made regular appearances on major networks including CNN, NBC, CBS, MTV/MTV2 and HLN.

GUEST PERFORMER

Brian King Joseph You may know him best from his performances on America’s Got Talent. Brian King Joseph is a living embodiment of the power of music and positivity.

Nicknamed “The King of Electric Violin,” Brian King Joseph is a self-taught, self-produced master of his craft, and this rebellious prodigy is ready to change the game. Like all the great virtuosos, BKJ picked violin, piano, and voice at age four, and trained classically. Despite being born without privilege or financial security, BKJ thrived under the pressure and immediately took to the violin like a fish to water, winning multiple state competitions for violin performance while competing against those three or more years over his age group.

Having been diagnosed with a severe nerve disease that affects most of his body only serves to fuel his fire to make music and inspire others as he continues to deliver a brand-new violin sound, overwhelming talent, a unique ear, and incredible stage presence - mixed with a smile that will set your heart aflame. Brian King Koseph has everything it takes and more - to revolutionize modern music.

No one captures more hearts than Brian “King” Joseph. His audience ranges from age 8 to 80, which is very rare for a contemporary performer. Almost nobody else has made more of an impact on America’s Got Talent. Brian’s appearances have led to personal booking dates all over the world, with groups ranging from 500 people to packed stadiums of 90,000. He is also known for his charitable work and visits childrens hospitals in most of the cities where he is performing. Brian once said “music saved my life. I want to use it now to save other people’s lives.” In 2020, Brian will be releasing his first album, featuring original music and is looking forward to continuing his landmark personal appearances.

2017 MER AWARD RECIPIENT

Marlee Matlin Marlee Matlin received worldwide critical acclaim for her motion picture debut in Paramount Pictures’ “Children of a Lesser God,” a performance the film community chose to recognize in with its highest honor — the Academy Award for Best Actress. At age 21, she became the youngest recipient of the Best Actress Oscar and one of only four actresses to receive that honor for a film debut. In addition to the Oscar, Marlee was honored by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association with the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama. That same year she was honored by Harper’s Bazaar Magazine as one of the “The Ten Most Beautiful Women” and Esquire Magazine’s “Women We Love.”

She was twice nominated for both a Golden Globe Award as Best Actress in a Dramatic Television Series as well as the People’s Choice Awards for her role in the television series "Reasonable Doubts," and was nominated for two Emmy awards for her guest roles on NBC’s “Seinfeld and CBS’s “Picket Fences.”

Marlee also starred in “Against Her Will: The Carrie Buck Story,” a movie for Lifetime Television in which she was nominated for a Cable ACE Award for Best Actress in a Movie or Mini-Series. Marlee broke down yet another barrier with the role, playing a character who was not deaf.

Marlee has also performed the national anthem in American Sign Language at three Super Bowls and has served on the boards of a number of charitable organizations including Easter Seals, as well as those charities which primarily benefit children.

GUEST SPEAKER

Gail Williamson Gail Williamson is a talent agent and head of the Diversity Department at Kazarian/Measures/Ruskin & Associates in Los Angeles, CA. The department focuses on representing clients with diverse disabilities. Gail began her career as an advocate for talent with disabilities with the California Governor’s Committee for Employment of People with Disabilities working in their Media Access Office in Los Angeles in the early 90’s. To date, Gail has represented talent with disabilities on Broadway, as network series regulars, as recurring characters and more. Gail’s own son Blair who was born with Down syndrome is an accomplished actor, his work was the beginning of Gail’s media training and eye-opening experience on how media images can change public opinion.

Gail is the recipient of several honors for her work in the entertainment industry. To name a few she has been recognized with Changing Images in America’s Media Image Award, The Arc of the US Catalyst Award for Entertainment Excellence, The Media Access Awards Norman Lear/Geri Jewell Lifetime Achievement Award, and as a mom, in 1999 she was named American Mothers’ Inc.’s National Mother of the Year.

Gail also shares her years of knowledge with many organizations by participating on panels, as a host or moderator, presenting keynotes and serving as an advisor.

RUDERMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION

Open Letter The Ruderman Family Foundation Open Letter calls on the entertainment industry to increase opportunities for performers with disabilities by taking the following steps: Join the Ruderman Family Foundation Pledge to audition actors with disabilities.

Cast qualified performers with disabilities, thereby improving their visibility and expanding overall talent pools.

Join us by signing our open letter today!

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