NEW YORK (JTA) — The Anti-Defamation League honored breast cancer activist Nancy Brinker with its Americanism Award.
Brinker, the founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, received the award Feb. 4 from ADL National Director Abraham Foxman at the organization’s annual dinner at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla.
"Nancy is a woman to be admired and emulated," Foxman said, according to his prepared remarks. "When she sets her sights on an issue her determination, creativity, expertise and leadership come into play. Problems get solved. Success is achieved."
Brinker, a former U.S. ambassador to Hungary, established the Komen organization following the death of her sister from breast cancer in 1980. In October the group, which has financed cancer research projects in Israel, was involved in a controversy involving the participation of Israeli doctors in a week of breast cancer activities in Cairo.
"For me, for ADL, it is very clear — the villain in this story was Egypt, not the Susan B. Komen Foundation," Foxman said.
