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Has an unsunghero touchedyour life?Jack FanousEast WindsorGI Go Fund2013 Honoree2021 Nomination Information
Dear Friend,Twenty-five years ago Russ Berrie created the Making aDifference Award to honor, as he put it, “outstanding people — justcommon folks, not great scientists or people of great wealth peoplewho 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 effortsbreak down barriers, improve lives, and make New Jersey a better place tolive, work, and raise a family.Events of this past year have profoundly impacted our world. COVID-19 continuesto devastate families and communities around our state. Appalling incidents ofviolence across the nation show how far we have to go to address racial injustice andsystemic inequality.“There is no greaterimportance in life thanknowing you’ve helped afellow human being.”- Russ Berrie, 1933-2002Angelica Berrie with 2019 Honoree Bridget Cutler, North Plainfield, Founder, Moms Helping Moms FoundationAs we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Making a Difference Award, we ask you tohelp us recognize those people who, in the face of challenges and problems, have foundways to make a difference.Has an unsung hero touched your life? We encourage you to take a few minutes andnominate a special person you’ve encountered and give him or her the chance to berecognized for their service.Thank you for helping us to identify and recognize these deserving individuals in 2021.Angelica BerriePresident, Russell Berrie Foundation2Peter P. Mercer, J.D., Ph.D.,PresidentRamapo College of New JerseyCo-Chair, Advisory BoardIrene Cooper-Basch, Ph.D.,Executive OfficerVictoria FoundationCo-Chair, Advisory Board
Nominate Your Unsung HeroSince 1997, the Russ BerrieMaking a Difference Award hasgiven 3.5 million to 366people, each of whom has aninspiring story to tell abouthow they made a difference.Jodi O'Donnell-AmesTitusvilleHope Loves Company2018 HonoreeThey are the people who: Help others in need Give their time and energy to solve communityproblems 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 environmentIn 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 virtualAward Ceremony in May 2021 and willreceive a Certificate of Appreciation.Nominate your Unsung NJ Hero onlineat berrieawards.ramapo.eduQuestions?Email madaawards@ramapo.edu for moreinformation. Nominations must besubmitted by February 12, 2021.Karen Monroy, Ph.D.FlemingtonGrateful Bites2019 Honoree3
Meet Some of Our HeroesMPIONLinda Gillick, Toms RiverOcean of Love2015 HonoreeAHCOver 40 years ago, Linda learned that herthree-month-old son had cancer. Soon, hugenumbers of children from the Toms River areahad similar diagnoses. She pushed state healthofficials to explore environmental causes forthe high disease rates, eventually confirmingillegal dumping of chemicals into localwaterways. Linda's efforts led to research andforced a cleanup of several sites in the area.She launched Ocean of Love in 1988, whichhas helped 500 families dealing withchildhood cancer in Ocean County. Linda'sson Michael has defied the odds but suffersfrom cancer's aftereffects.Zamir Hassan, BedminsterMuslims Against Hunger2014 Honoree4DEAIWhen Zamir visited a soup kitchen as a chaperonefor his son's class twenty years ago, he was shocked tosee homeless and hungry people in an affluent NewJersey suburb. As a Muslim, he knew the liturgytaught he should not go to bed if his neighbor werehungry. He organized volunteers from hiscongregation to serve at local soup kitchens. Asinterest from other congregations grew, Zamirfounded Muslims Against Hunger, a network ofvolunteer communities around the world who feedthe hungry, including the Hunger Van, a fleet ofmobile soup kitchens.LIST
RA’Dorian Murray-Thomas, NewarkSHE Wins2018 HonoreeTMENOA'Dorian lost her father to gun violence whenshe was just seven years old. That tragedytaught her the importance of a support systemto navigate life after loss. She created SHEWins to help young women from Newark whohave also been affected by violence. A'Dorianhas mentored over 500 girls through SHEWins, positioning them for college and careersuccess, and providing opportunities to addresscommunity issues. A passionate advocate forher hometown, in 2019 she became theyoungest woman elected to the Newark Boardof Education at 23 years old.Dana Spett, MahwahPony Power Therapies2007 HonoreeHEDana founded Pony Power in 2000 with four ridersand one horse. Today, its 13-acre accessible farm ishome to 22 horses and ponies who enhance thephysical, social, and emotional well-being ofchildren and adults needing extra support. Alifelong equestrian, Dana discovered therapeutichorseback riding while researching therapies forone of her daughters with mild special needs.Certified instructors and over 100 trainedvolunteers offer riding lessons outdoors and intheir indoor ring and provide opportunities to carefor small animals, explore nature trails, and harvestproduce from their "Farm in the Forest."ALER5
The Russell BerrieFoundationRussell Berrie was chairman and CEO of Russ Berrie &Company, a New Jersey company that he started in a tinyRuss and Angelica Berrierented garage in 1963. Known throughout the world by itsnickname – RUSS – this small company grew into a 300 million business thatrevolutionized the way gifts and greeting cards are sold worldwide.Mr. Berrie devoted time, energy, and resources to numerous charitable causes through theRussell Berrie Foundation, created in 1985. As a philanthropist, he supported hundredsof organizations and fostered initiatives that express his values, passions, and vision in theareas of diabetes treatment, humanism in medicine, Jewish continuity, salesmanship as aprofession, 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, visitwww.russellberriefoundation.orgRamapo College of New JerseyRamapo College of New Jersey, the state’s premier publicliberal arts college, is committed to academic excellencethrough interdisciplinary and experiential learning, andinternational and intercultural understanding. Ramapo isrecognized as a top college by U.S. News & World Report,Kiplinger’s, Princeton Review, and Money magazine, amongothers, and is designated a “Military Friendly College” inVictoria 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 asprofessional studies in business, education, nursing, and social work. In addition,the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary andsecondary levels, and offers nine graduate programs, as well as a post-master’sDoctor of Nursing Practice.Visit www.ramapo.edu and www.ramapo.edu/foundation tolearn more.6
Frequently AskedQuestionsHow are nominations evaluated?An Advisory Board of community and businessleaders from around the state reviews andrecommends nominations. They evaluatenominees’ 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 beyonda single community or group of people to havestatewide or nationwide impact?Gilman ChoudhuryPatersonRobotics Mentor atJFK High School,2017 Honoree Is the person a volunteer, or paid? If paid, are the effortsabove 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 orcommunities 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, pleasedescribe 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 notselected 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 Honoreestories we invite you to follow us on social ie-Foundation/BerrieAwardNJ7
Award Honorees (2014-2019)2019Bridget Cutler, North PlainfieldMichael Doliszny, Ocean CityKatherine Evans, NewtonPatrick Finn, SewellMelina Garcia, Union CitySuzann Goldstein, WarrenAlexa Grabelle, VoorheesKaren Monroy, PhD, FlemingtonFraidy Reiss, Union CountyThomas von Oehsen, Trenton2018Edrick Alleyne, EatontownRev. Mildred Farrar, PatersonMelissa Gertz, RingoesEileen Goff, Fort LeeToba Grossbaum, LivingstonA’Dorian Murray-Thomas, NewarkJodi O’Donnell-Ames, TitusvilleDon Quigley, ManalapanBenigno Rodriquez, CamdenEthan Sandlofer, Upper Saddle RiverCarla Scarabino, Monmouth Beach2017Brenda Antinore, CamdenKurt and Tricia Baker, PlainsboroJoseph Brown, GallowayMarlene Ceragno, Fort LeeGilman Choudhury, PatersonKatelyn Darrow, PitmanDanielle Gletow, EwingLorna Henkel, SecaucusKiersten Miles, Sea GirtBonnie O’Brien, ParamusCharles Valentine, North Arlington2016Ziad Ahmed, PrincetonBetty Prezzy Bryant, HillsideJane and Joseph Clementi, RidgewoodLisa Gladwell, River EdgeSeth Grumet, MarlboroAdam Lowy, Asbury ParkVincent Mann, West MilfordConnie Mercer, LawrencevilleJulia Quinlan, NewtonDanny Walls, Elmwood ParkFaye Zealand, Howell2015Paige Alenick, Woodcliff LakeDora Arias, MountainsideAnthony Bevivino, VillasEvangelia “Poppy” Davis, Cherry HillLinda Gillick, Toms RiverEileen Griffith, ChesterTom Cash, Short HillsDominique Lee, NewarkAnne Ciavaglia McMahon, Hasbrouck HeightsBrian Meersma, Princeton Junction2014Joseph Abate III, North CaldwellJoseph Blythe, Hasbrouck HeightsEdith Coogan, CranfordPatricia and Raymond Dansen, North HaledonKeely Freeman, East OrangeLisa Goldman, CliftonRita Yohalem, West OrangeZamir Hassan, BedminsterJoyce Jenkins, MarlboroTawanda Jones, CamdenWilliam Smith, FairviewDr. Brian Ullman, DDS, Ho-Ho-KusFor a complete list of all Honorees since 1997,please visit our website at berrieawards.ramapo.edu
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 .
