Richard H. Adler has been selected by the Seattle City Club for its “Jefferson Award” in Washington State. Co-founded by Jackie Kennedy Onassis, US Senator Robert Taft and Sam Beard in 1972, the Jefferson Award was created as a “Nobel Prize” for public service/volunteerism and to honor the “unsung heroes.” The award is given on a state and national level.
Richard was nominated for his work with the Brain Injury Association of Washington (BIAWA) surrounding traumatic brain injury awareness and developing and leading a coalition of community partners/leaders to pass the Zackery Lystedt Law (inspired by and named after his client) by the Washington Legislature in 2009. The Lystedt Law is a first-in-the-nation law that requires a youth athlete’s removal from practice/competition following a concussion, and clearance by a licensed healthcare professional before returning to competition. This law has saved lives and prevented preventable brain injuries in many youth athletes. Richard has assisted a national coalition of partners and lawmakers in cascading this law across the country. Now, 31 other states have adopted the principles of the Lystedt law, and Mr. Adler remains involved in the plan to ensure that the remaining 19 states follow. He serves as Chairman of the Executive Board of BIAWA, and is credited with ensuring it remains a strong, vital organization in our community, providing a voice to brain injury survivors, their family members and their caregivers.
This year Seattle City Club, founded in 1980, awarded five “unsung heroes” the Washington State Jefferson Award out of 100 nominees. Out of these five local award recipients, one person will represent Washington State at the national award ceremony later this year for a chance to win the National Jefferson Award.
All of us at Adler ♦ Giersch PS are incredibly proud of Richard and are truly honored to work with him on a day to day basis. Congratulation Richard!
