2025 Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award
Call for Nominations
It’s time to nominate community changemakers for the 2025 Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award.
Who do you know who deserves recognition for creating impact and making a positive change in their community? Nominate your friends or neighbors, community leaders and advocates . . . people who are making New Jersey a better place to live.
Deadline for entry: February 7, 2025
Nominate Later:
Making a Difference
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.
Learn more about this unique award and the impact it’s had for nearly 30 years.
Nominate someone today for a Making a Difference Award
Deadline for entry: February 7, 2025
Generous Recognition for Honorees
Along with public recognition, Honorees will receive cash awards. In 2025, we will award more than $150,000 to Honorees.
It only takes a few minutes to nominate someone you work with, volunteer with, or know about through their efforts and commitment to doing good for others.
The 2024 Making a Difference Honorees
Past Honorees
From the Blog
The work of our past honorees, who have tackled important issues, continues to make profound differences for NJ residents. Learn more about these remarkable individuals through their stories.
The Genesis of the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award: Heralding New Jersey’s Unsung Heroes
Russ Berrie’s deep appreciation and empathy for the unsung heroes among us in NJ who work tirelessly to improve lives, and his passion for philanthropy, motivated the launch of the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Awards.
Meet Riccardo Dale: Helping Put Youth at Risk on the Path to Success
Riccardo Dale, a 2024 Russ Berrie honoree, founded Free All Minds Academy (F.A.M.) to support at-risk youth from 8th grade to adulthood, providing weekly mentoring and guidance.
Meet Gary Oppenheimer: Connecting Gardeners to Food Pantries to Fight Hunger
Our third subject for Hunger Action Month is Gary Oppenheimer, a 2011 MADA honoree and founder of AmpleHarvest.org, a nonprofit that connects gardeners with food pantries for surplus donations.
Recent Press & Media
Gilman Choudhury with his Robotics team
The 2025 Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award
Ready To Nominate a NJ Changemaker?
Deadline for entry: February 7, 2025