Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award 2021 Nomination Brochure

Has an unsung hero touched your life?

Jack Fanous East Windsor GI Go Fund 2013 Honoree

2021 Nomination Information

Dear Friend, Twenty-five years ago Russ Berrie created the Making a Difference Award to honor, as he put it, “outstanding people — just common folks, not great scientists or people of great wealth…people who work really hard and spend a lifetime giving up a lot of themselves.''

In his name, we continue to honor the unsung heroes whose selfless efforts break down barriers, improve lives, and make New Jersey a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Events of this past year have profoundly impacted our world. COVID-19 continues to devastate families and communities around our state. Appalling incidents of violence across the nation show how far we have to go to address racial injustice and systemic inequality.

“There is no greater importance in life than knowing you’ve helped a fellow human being.”

- Russ Berrie, 1933-2002 Angelica Berrie with 2019 Honoree Bridget Cutler, North Plainfield, Founder, Moms Helping Moms Foundation

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Making a Difference Award, we ask you to help us recognize those people who, in the face of challenges and problems, have found ways to make a difference.

Has an unsung hero touched your life? We encourage you to take a few minutes and nominate a special person you’ve encountered and give him or her the chance to be recognized for their service.

Thank you for helping us to identify and recognize these deserving individuals in 2021.

Angelica Berrie President, Russell Berrie Foundation

2

Peter P. Mercer, J.D., Ph.D., President Ramapo College of New Jersey Co-Chair, Advisory Board

Irene Cooper-Basch, Ph.D., Executive Officer Victoria Foundation Co-Chair, Advisory Board

Nominate Your Unsung Hero Since 1997, the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award has given $3.5 million to 366 people, each of whom has an inspiring story to tell about how they made a difference.

Jodi O'Donnell-Ames Titusville Hope Loves Company 2018 Honoree

They are the people who: • Help others in need • Give their time and energy to solve community problems and transform neighborhoods • Put others above themselves • Bring hope to the forgotten and ignored • Stand up for the rights of others • Create opportunities for young people to succeed • Protect the environment In 2021, up to 10 awards will be given: A top award of $50,000, two $25,000 awards, and seven awards of $7,500.

All nominees will be recognized at the virtual Award Ceremony in May 2021 and will receive a Certificate of Appreciation.

Nominate your Unsung NJ Hero online at berrieawards.ramapo.edu Questions?

Email madaawards@ramapo.edu for more information. Nominations must be submitted by February 12, 2021.

Karen Monroy, Ph.D. Flemington Grateful Bites 2019 Honoree 3

Meet Some of Our Heroes

M

PI

ON

Linda Gillick, Toms River Ocean of Love 2015 Honoree

A H C

Over 40 years ago, Linda learned that her three-month-old son had cancer. Soon, huge numbers of children from the Toms River area had similar diagnoses. She pushed state health officials to explore environmental causes for the high disease rates, eventually confirming illegal dumping of chemicals into local waterways. Linda's efforts led to research and forced a cleanup of several sites in the area.

She launched Ocean of Love in 1988, which has helped 500 families dealing with childhood cancer in Ocean County. Linda's son Michael has defied the odds but suffers from cancer's aftereffects.

Zamir Hassan, Bedminster Muslims Against Hunger 2014 Honoree

4

D

EA

I

When Zamir visited a soup kitchen as a chaperone for his son's class twenty years ago, he was shocked to see homeless and hungry people in an affluent New Jersey suburb. As a Muslim, he knew the liturgy taught he should not go to bed if his neighbor were hungry. He organized volunteers from his congregation to serve at local soup kitchens. As interest from other congregations grew, Zamir founded Muslims Against Hunger, a network of volunteer communities around the world who feed the hungry, including the Hunger Van, a fleet of mobile soup kitchens.

LIST

R

A’Dorian Murray-Thomas, Newark SHE Wins 2018 Honoree

T MEN

O

A'Dorian lost her father to gun violence when she was just seven years old. That tragedy taught her the importance of a support system to navigate life after loss. She created SHE Wins to help young women from Newark who have also been affected by violence. A'Dorian has mentored over 500 girls through SHE Wins, positioning them for college and career success, and providing opportunities to address community issues. A passionate advocate for her hometown, in 2019 she became the youngest woman elected to the Newark Board of Education at 23 years old.

Dana Spett, Mahwah Pony Power Therapies 2007 Honoree

HE

Dana founded Pony Power in 2000 with four riders and one horse. Today, its 13-acre accessible farm is home to 22 horses and ponies who enhance the physical, social, and emotional well-being of children and adults needing extra support. A lifelong equestrian, Dana discovered therapeutic horseback riding while researching therapies for one of her daughters with mild special needs.

Certified instructors and over 100 trained volunteers offer riding lessons outdoors and in their indoor ring and provide opportunities to care for small animals, explore nature trails, and harvest produce from their "Farm in the Forest."

A

LE

R 5

The Russell Berrie Foundation

Russell Berrie was chairman and CEO of Russ Berrie & Company, a New Jersey company that he started in a tiny Russ and Angelica Berrie rented garage in 1963. Known throughout the world by its nickname – RUSS – this small company grew into a $300 million business that revolutionized the way gifts and greeting cards are sold worldwide.

Mr. Berrie devoted time, energy, and resources to numerous charitable causes through the Russell Berrie Foundation, created in 1985. As a philanthropist, he supported hundreds of organizations and fostered initiatives that express his values, passions, and vision in the areas of diabetes treatment, humanism in medicine, Jewish continuity, salesmanship as a profession, arts and culture, and strengthening communities in northern New Jersey.

The Russell Berrie Foundation continues his legacy of generosity and has recognized 366 “Unsung New Jersey Heroes” with the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award.

For more about the Russell Berrie Foundation, visit www.russellberriefoundation.org

Ramapo College of New Jersey Ramapo College of New Jersey, the state’s premier public liberal arts college, is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. Ramapo is recognized as a top college by U.S. News & World Report, Kiplinger’s, Princeton Review, and Money magazine, among others, and is designated a “Military Friendly College” in Victoria Media’s Guide to Military Friendly Schools.

Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences, and the sciences, as well as professional studies in business, education, nursing, and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers nine graduate programs, as well as a post-master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice.

Visit www.ramapo.edu and www.ramapo.edu/foundation to learn more.

6

Frequently Asked Questions How are nominations evaluated?

An Advisory Board of community and business leaders from around the state reviews and recommends nominations. They evaluate nominees’ contributions based on the following: • What has the individual accomplished?

• Why is their work important?

• How many people were helped?

• How far-reaching is the impact? Does it go beyond a single community or group of people to have statewide or nationwide impact?

Gilman Choudhury Paterson Robotics Mentor at JFK High School, 2017 Honoree

• Is the person a volunteer, or paid? If paid, are the efforts above and beyond their paid job?

• Will receiving the award make a significant difference in the person’s life?

Must nominees be New Jersey residents?

Yes. The Honoree must live in New Jersey and their work must help people or communities in New Jersey.

Can a past Honoree receive an award?

No. Past Honorees are not eligible to receive a second award.

Can I nominate a "COVID Hero" — a health care professional, a first responder, a law enforcement official, educator, or essential worker?

If you are nominating someone for achievements or heroic acts related to their job, please describe why these actions “go above and beyond” the regular responsibilities of their work.

How will I know if my nominee is selected?

Those selected as 2021 Honorees are contacted in early April. All nominees who were not selected and their nominators will receive an invitation to the virtual Award Ceremony.

The invitation will contain a card stating that they were not selected this year.

To stay up to date on nominations, the Award Ceremony, and past Honoree stories we invite you to follow us on social media. /BerrieAwardNJ

/BerrieAwardNJ

The-Russell-Berrie-Foundation

/BerrieAwardNJ

7

Award Honorees (2014-2019) 2019 Bridget Cutler, North Plainfield Michael Doliszny, Ocean City Katherine Evans, Newton Patrick Finn, Sewell Melina Garcia, Union City Suzann Goldstein, Warren Alexa Grabelle, Voorhees Karen Monroy, PhD, Flemington Fraidy Reiss, Union County Thomas von Oehsen, Trenton 2018 Edrick Alleyne, Eatontown Rev. Mildred Farrar, Paterson Melissa Gertz, Ringoes Eileen Goff, Fort Lee Toba Grossbaum, Livingston A’Dorian Murray-Thomas, Newark Jodi O’Donnell-Ames, Titusville Don Quigley, Manalapan Benigno Rodriquez, Camden Ethan Sandlofer, Upper Saddle River Carla Scarabino, Monmouth Beach 2017 Brenda Antinore, Camden Kurt and Tricia Baker, Plainsboro Joseph Brown, Galloway Marlene Ceragno, Fort Lee Gilman Choudhury, Paterson Katelyn Darrow, Pitman Danielle Gletow, Ewing Lorna Henkel, Secaucus Kiersten Miles, Sea Girt Bonnie O’Brien, Paramus Charles Valentine, North Arlington

2016 Ziad Ahmed, Princeton Betty Prezzy Bryant, Hillside Jane and Joseph Clementi, Ridgewood Lisa Gladwell, River Edge Seth Grumet, Marlboro Adam Lowy, Asbury Park Vincent Mann, West Milford Connie Mercer, Lawrenceville Julia Quinlan, Newton Danny Walls, Elmwood Park Faye Zealand, Howell 2015 Paige Alenick, Woodcliff Lake Dora Arias, Mountainside Anthony Bevivino, Villas Evangelia “Poppy” Davis, Cherry Hill Linda Gillick, Toms River Eileen Griffith, Chester Tom Cash, Short Hills Dominique Lee, Newark Anne Ciavaglia McMahon, Hasbrouck Heights Brian Meersma, Princeton Junction 2014 Joseph Abate III, North Caldwell Joseph Blythe, Hasbrouck Heights Edith Coogan, Cranford Patricia and Raymond Dansen, North Haledon Keely Freeman, East Orange Lisa Goldman, Clifton Rita Yohalem, West Orange Zamir Hassan, Bedminster Joyce Jenkins, Marlboro Tawanda Jones, Camden William Smith, Fairview Dr. Brian Ullman, DDS, Ho-Ho-Kus

For a complete list of all Honorees since 1997, please visit our website at berrieawards.ramapo.edu