Letter From the President Ronald B. Richard
On behalf of the board of directors and staff at The Cleveland Foundation, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the Anisfield-Wolf web site. We are proud that Edith Anisfield Wolf entrusted us to carry on her legacy with this important and unique award.
Edith Anisfield Wolf has often been described as a woman way ahead of her time and we’re grateful she was. When you think back to 1935 and the state of our country and our city, her concern about issues of social justice and race relations is particularly poignant.
Edith Anisfield Wolf did more than just talk about social justice. She established this award to encourage others to read, to think, and to debate critical issues of their day. It was her fervent desire that through their conversations, subsequent generations of Clevelanders and Americans would gain a better understanding and appreciation for one another, the unique beauty in our cultural differences, and the richness of humanity.
As a poet, Edith Anisfield Wolf was acutely aware of the impact of language. As a philanthropist and concerned citizen, she knew she couldn’t turn away from the prejudices she saw in the world. Today, more than 70 years later, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards remains the only American book award designed specifically to recognize works addressing issues of diversity, race and our appreciation of human cultures. It is an amazing legacy for a truly amazing woman.
I hope you will explore this site and in doing so, find yourself challenged to think deeply and differently… to value and respect our unique heritages… and to celebrate our differences while finding common bonds.
Ronald B. Richard
President & CEO
The Cleveland Foundation
Ronald B. Richard
President & CEO
The Cleveland Foundation
Multimedia Library
Watch and hear select highlights from past Awards.
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