AFT President Edward J. McElroy To Receive
Yitzhak Rabin Education Leadership Award
Proceeds from Award Dinner To Support Classroom in the Yitzhak Rabin Center
in Memory of Former AFT President Sandra Feldman

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Edward J. McElroy, president of the American Federation of Teachers, will be honored as the first recipient of the Yitzhak Rabin Education Leadership Award at a Sept. 20 dinner in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by the Yitzhak Rabin Center, the award recognizes individuals who demonstrate the ideals of Israeli Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated while in office in 1995.

McElroy has been a powerful advocate of labor rights, human rights and high-quality public education as effective forces to combat poverty, promote peace and enhance democracy in the United States and around the world.  Prior to his election as AFT president in 2004, he served 12 years as AFT secretary-treasurer and 15 years as president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO. In addition, he currently serves as a vice president of the AFL-CIO and as chair of its Department for Professional Employees.   He is on the boards of both Education International and the National Endowment for Democracy, and is an officer of the Jewish Labor Committee.

At McElroy’s request, proceeds from the dinner will be used to establish a classroom in the Yitzhak Rabin Center in Tel Aviv, Israel, honoring the late Sandra Feldman.  Feldman, who died in 2005, served as AFT president from 1997-2004 and as president of the United Federation of Teachers in New York City from 1986-97.

“This will be a fitting tribute to Sandy, who devoted her life to promoting education, social justice, democracy and tolerance—the same beliefs espoused by Yitzhak Rabin,” said McElroy.

Featured speakers at the dinner will include Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.);  Yuval Rabin, the son of Yitzhak Rabin; and John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO.  Morton Bahr, former president of the Communications Workers of America, will present the award.
 
Dedicated in November 2005, the Yitzhak Rabin Center works to build and maintain civil and democratic societies through programs focused on education, leadership, responsibility and tolerance. 

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