Russ Berrie

Making a Difference Award

Since 1997, the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award has honored 430 New Jersey residents for their outstanding and heroic service. Recipients, ranging from teens to senior citizens across the state, have made significant impacts through their resilience, dedication, and passion for positive change.

Our 2025 nomination campaign will open in January. If you’d like to receive notifications about the campaign and links to the nomination form, click the button below.

Russ Berrie Making aDifference Awards Hero-Collage NJ 2024
Established in
1997by Russell Berrie
A total of
430 NJ Honorees
Awarded over
$4.2M in cash awards since 1997
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Established in
1997
by Russell Berrie
A total of
430
NJ Honorees
Awarded over
$4.2M
in cash awards since 1997

Our 2024 Making a Difference Honorees

28th Anniversary Russ Berrie Making a Difference Honoree Presentation

12 inspiring Honorees were celebrated at our 28th anniversary award ceremony at Ramapo College.
About the

Making a Difference

Award
Established in 1997 by the late Russell Berrie, and managed and hosted by Ramapo College of New Jersey, the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award honors Garden State residents whose outstanding community service and heroic acts have made a substantial impact on the lives of others.

Past Honorees

Learn more about past Honorees of the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award and the impact they are having in communities around New Jersey. All of them are shining examples of individuals who saw a need, an injustice, an inequity, or a problem to solve . . . and took action.
There’s no greater importance in life than knowing you’ve helped a fellow human being.”
Russ Berrie, 1933-2002
Russell Berrie

From the Blog

In the News

Recent Press & Media

MONTH YYYY

Anti-Violence Coalition of Hudson County to receive $2 million in a grant to allow the organization to respond to non-emergency mental health crisis calls.

Pamela Johnson, founder of the Anti-Violence Coalition of Hudson County
MONTH YYYY
PFHC Founder Dr. Gene Cheslock – The center provides free medical care to uninsured and underinsured residents of Monmouth County.
October 2924
Robert Clark, Founder & CEO, Newark Opportunity Youth Network – video series aimed at strengthening literacy across the community, featuring Newark authors who are men of color.

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