Bonnie O’Brien of Paramus was awarded the $50,000 Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award for her passion to improve the lives of individuals transitioning from incarceration back into society. In the mid-1990s, Bonnie, a human resources professional, was asked to conduct employment/career training at the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack. It was a stark introduction to the reality of recidivism: approximately two-thirds of people released from jail or prison are re-arrested within three years, evidence of a dire need for programs to help those people make a successful journey back into society. As she continued to volunteer at the jail, she worked tirelessly to establish contacts with community leaders, members of law enforcement, the court system, state colleges and universities, local businesses and area not-for-profit organizations in the hopes of promoting and advancing re-entry services. After exhaustive efforts, Bonnie purchased in 2013 a building in Hackensack with her personal funds, and launched Transition Professionals, a collaboration of volunteers with various professional backgrounds, including psychologists, employment specialists, paralegals, not-for-profit professionals, attorneys, licensed social workers, armed services veterans, individuals from faith-based organizations and even ex-offenders. Since its inception and with Bonnie as its executive director, Transition Professionals has served hundreds of individuals pre- and post-release from incarceration, making a difference in the lives of those who have been long underserved but yet deserve another chance.

Transition Professionals is a second chance re-entry program  to reduce recidivism by empowering individuals to successfully transition from incarceration to community. Offer services to those who are imprisoned (awaiting release within 90 days) and those were recently released. They provide support to help those recently released including a clothing closet, housing search, career counseling, enrollment in benefits, addiction support groups.