New York, NY, March 11, 2026 – ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) today announced that Emmanuel Acho will receive the first-ever ADL Ally Award at the 2026 Never Is Now Summit. A New York Times bestselling author, Emmy Award winner and host, Acho has built a powerful platform by fostering honest dialogue, challenging hate and encouraging people to engage across differences with empathy and integrity. His work exemplifies a core theme of this year’s Never Is Now Summit: lasting change requires partnership, courage and action.
The award is being presented on the mainstage during ADL’s 2026 Never Is Now Summit on Antisemitism and Hate, March 16-17 in New York City.
“Emmanuel Acho is the creator of some of the most culturally resonant content in modern media, but his impact goes far beyond just relevance,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “Acho has a passion and a commitment for engaging people across differences with empathy and integrity, and that’s what we need in this moment demands. He is accomplished in his professional life, and beyond that, he is a mensch of the first order.”
Acho’s work to create bridges across communities goes beyond his Emmy-winning series Uncomfortable Conversations with Emmanuel Acho, executive produced by Oprah Winfrey. What began as a digital series quickly amassed over 100 million views, sparked a national reckoning around race and empathy, and grew into a bestselling franchise under Oprah’s publishing imprint.
Acho is the co-author of Uncomfortable Conversations with a Jew with activist Noa Tishby, where the two break down taboos, educate about Jewish history and identity and serve as a model for cross-community partnership in confronting bigotry.
“I’m so humbled and honored to be named the first-ever recipient of the ADL Ally Award,” said Acho. “Whether it’s engaging in uncomfortable conversations or exploring issues of race or identity with others, I’m always thinking of the words and ideals of Dr. King, who inspired us to always listen empathetically to those being affected by a difficult issue, and especially for those who feel excluded or marginalized. It’s very humbling to be recognized for this important work, which I plan on carrying out in everything I do.”
After earning his undergraduate degree in Sports Management, Acho was drafted by the Cleveland Browns, but was then traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he spent most of his NFL career. During the off-season, Emmanuel pursued a master’s degree in Sports Psychology at the University of Texas. In his transition from the football field to broadcasting, Emmanuel became the youngest national football analyst and was recognized as a Forbes “30 under 30” honoree.
ADL established the Ally Award to recognize a recipient who shows up for all communities facing hate and bigotry in today’s world. This recipient embodies the characteristics of advocacy, leadership and collaboration and knows that you can’t fight hate in a vacuum. Hate has become a universal link that ties together many marginalized communities and shows us that there is more that unites us than divides us. The Ally Award recipient fully understands this common denominator and practices forging and fostering relationships between their communities and others to fight hate for good.
ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Founded in 1913 to protect the Jewish people, ADL works to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and secure justice and fair treatment to all. In the face of rising antisemitism and extremism, we protect, advocate, and educate, through a mix of programs and services using the latest innovations and technology, and seek to create a world without hate. More at www.adl.org.
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