The 16th Annual Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference
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Past Winners of the Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference
2011
For her work with disabled children and establishing Camp Acorn, a summer/winter social and recreational program for children and young adults with multiple disabilities, Catherine Carisi of Lodi was awarded a $50,000 Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference. Carisi began working with disabled children when she was 17. The experience ignited a passion in her. With two friends she formed the non-profit organization Camp Acorn in 2001. It offers a therapeutic and instructional program that develops fine and gross motor skills while building confidence and self-esteem. All activities are adapted to the individual needs of each camper. Carisi’s mission is to give individuals with special needs experiences they are denied elsewhere. The camp offers a nine-week summer camp, a Saturday program and monthly dances during the school year. Carisi has been described as fearless and one who challenges the limited notions people have about what those with special needs can achieve. For the campers and volunteers of Camp Acorn, she is a teacher, mentor, friend and mother.
Taking home the $35,000 award was Hernan Agudelo of Union. He is a hero, putting himself in danger to help two assault victims. This past January, he heard a commotion in his neighbor’s backyard. He went to investigate and observed an assailant attacking his two female neighbors with a knife and an axe. Without hesitation he ran to his car and returned with a small baseball bat. He struck the assailant and was able to stop the vicious attack. The assailant turned his rage to Agudelo, who suffered lacerations to his ear and neck. His neighbors, who were in critical condition, are still recovering. The Union police director who nominated Agudelo said, “There is no doubt that if Mr. Agudelo did not intervene, this incident would have resulted in a double homicide.”
Jane Geoghegan of Toms River received the $25,000 award. She and her family were nominated for their collective years of service with the Silverton First Aid Squad. Three generations, spanning 47 years, have selflessly contributed time and talent, making a meaningful contribution to the community. Husband Jerry founded the Silverton First Aid Squad in 1964 and served as president until his recent death. Geoghegan, a retired nurse and paramedic, serves as captain of the squad. At one point, three of the Geoghegan’s children served. Now, a grandchild has hopped on board. Geoghegan enjoys helping others. While she muses about the serious calls she responds to, she also has experienced joy, delivering three babies. Days can get busy. For instance, an on duty squad may respond to ten calls in a five hour period. Silverton’s current president said that Geoghegan averages hundreds of responses each year and can be found at the first aid building almost seven days a week. Last year, the Township of Toms River passed a resolution thanking Jane Geoghegan for her outstanding humanitarian efforts.
2010
After seeing a plea from the Flemington Food Pantry asking gardeners to bring excess produce to the pantry to feed those in need, Chip Paillex of Pittstown started Grow-a-Row, an organization based in Hunterdon County that grows fresh produce to feed the hungry. For his efforts, Paillex was awarded a $50,000 Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference. Last year, Grow-a-Row donated 317,000 pounds of produce throughout New Jersey with the help of more than 900 volunteers.
Taking home the $35,000 award was Natasha Rodgers of Somerset. She created a non-profit organization to honor her grandfather. The Simuel Whitfield Simmons Organization continues the legacy of a minister who believed that it takes a village to strengthen a family. During the past 10 years, without collecting a salary, she has conducted clothing, food and furniture drives and created a youth mentorship program. Her approach has been to help less fortunate members of the community know that every dream can be realized through hard work and determination.
Joan Schaefer of Bergenfield received the $25,000 award. In 1959, she realized there was a need for a girls’ sports league. Determined, she contacted 20 towns to assess an interest. Six responded and the United Girls Athletic League Suburbia, UGALS, was born. Schaefer has overseen the league’s growth and there are now 82 town-based teams from 37 towns in Bergen, Passaic and Hudson counties. As UGALS’ only president, Schaefer is a visible presence at all UGALS activities, including games.
2009
Patient care technician Angelica Mercado of North Bergen was awarded a $50,000 cash grant from the Russell Berrie Foundation as winner of the 2009 Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference for assisting a driver whose gas tanker overturned and exploded. Mercado assisted at the scene of the accident and transported the driver to the hospital. Healthcare professionals at The University Hospital in Newark, where the driver was taken, believe Mercado's quick actions likely saved the man's life.
Taking home the $35,000 award was Kevin J. Williams of Maywood who established the Maywood Rotary Kenya Project to help Maasai schoolchildren. His efforts have resulted in the first fresh water well for the schoolchildren and people in seven villages along with school supplies, textbooks, school uniforms, well-balanced meals and a library. The organization has also paid for two eighth-grade classes to attend high school.
Bea Napier, of the Township of Washington (Bergen County), was awarded the $25,000 grant for her service with the township's ambulance corp. In her more than 35 years of service she has made more than 5,000 calls, used CPR to save 19 lives and assisted with three childbirths.
2008
Najlah Feanny Hicks. Photographer Najlah Feanny Hicks of Clifton, co-founder of the Heart Gallery of New Jersey, earned a $50,000 cash grant from the Russell Berrie Foundation as winner of the 2008 Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference. Since she conceived the idea of a traveling portrait gallery to publicize the plight of adoption-eligible children mired in the foster care system, over 100 children have been adopted into permanent, loving homes.
Juanita Hines. Taking home the $35,000 award was Juanita Hines of Orange, who, every Saturday morning for the last 20 years, has traveled to Newark Penn Station to distribute sandwiches, soups and stews to the homeless and needy who affectionately call her "the chicken lady."
Chaya Bender of Lakewood was awarded the $25,000 grant. As a high school student, she started the Special Children's Center as an after school program for seven children with developmental disabilities. Over the last 12 years, the center has grown into a full-service respite and family support agency for children, offering a daily after school program, summer camp, 48-hour weekend respite, 24-hour overnight respite, case management and other services, all at no cost to families.
2007
George Brewer. For his work as a host parent and trip administrator for Healing the Children, George Brewer of Wayne was presented 2007 Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference and a cash grant of $50,000. For more than 20 years, Brewer and his wife have been hosting children who come to the U.S. for medical treatment. Additionally, Brewer has made eight visits to the Dominican Republic as trip administrator for the group's International Medical Trips Program.
Dana Katzman-Spett of Mahwah, founder of Pony Power Therapies, won the $35,000 award for her work with disabled children and adults who gain flexibility, balance, muscle strength, confidence and self-esteem while riding horseback. Her organization serves more than 200 clients living with disorders including autism, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and depression, providing a safe and nurturing environment.
Jamie Lauren Cohen of Livingston saved two children from drowning during her holiday break from pre-med studies at the University of Michigan last December. For her quick actions last December, and for her work as founder and driving force behind the Roseville Project - a program to provide holiday cheer to underserved children in Newark, she was presented the $25,000 award.
2006
Sa'idah Sharif. Through a chance encounter with a victim of domestic abuse, Sa'idah Sharif of Roselle experienced a personal call to help Muslim victims of domestic violence, drawing on her knowledge of Islamic culture to found the state's first support service for members of the Islamic community.
Father Ronald Stanley. For the last 30 years, this Catholic campus chaplain has traveled to a small village in the remote mountains of the Dominican Republic to help build a stronger community. For the last decade, he has enlisted the aid of college students who travel with him and live among the poor farming families as they work to bridge the gap between the First and Third World peoples.
Anthony Marzocca. 17-year-old, Anthony Marzocca of Wayne, worked alongside his father to pull two children from a burning car after it hit tree and burst into flames. In 2001, he rescued a skier in distress who had skied off a cliff. For both actions, Anthony was recognized by the National Court of Honor for the Boy Scouts of America.
2005
Joann Tyler of Mine Hill. Joann Tyler's heart is filled with love - for her three birth children, her seven adopted children and more than 20 foster children, many with special needs. In addition, Joann is now feeding the homeless, preparing breakfast and dinner for more than 50 people a day.
David Butler, MD of Norwood, who for 13 year has made two to three visits per year to Haiti's Hôpital Sacré Coeur to provide obstetrical and gynecologic surgery services to poor and underserved women who travel as far as 20 miles for care. Each day, Butler performs five to eight surgeries and sees between 70 and 100 patients.
Arthur Ackerman of Port Norris adopted and raided four children with Down Syndrome and other special needs. "What the family lacks in money, and in many other things for that matter, they make up for in love and happiness," says a friend.
2004
Haley Rae Reimbold of Roosevelt is an extraordinary leader, who from a very young age developed and directed programs as a volunteer for the Red Cross, all while heading up numerous community outreach projects.
William Thomas of Rahway jumped into the frigid waters of the Rahway River to rescue a pregnant women trapped by her partially submerged car.
Kathleen Pearson of Brick saved the life of a pregnant mother and her four-year-old son after a Christmas Eve automobile accident caused by a drunk driver.
2003
John West, James Sylvester and Thomas Stewart III, all of Camden County, lost their lives in a blaze that also claimed the lives of three children they were trying to rescue. Together, these firefighters dedicated more than 53 years of service to the Gloucester City and Mount Ephraim fire departments.
Roberta Vickery of Pine Beach, blind from birth, is a retired physical therapist and founder of Ocean County Volunteers for the Blind, providers of taped and Brailled materials at no cost to clients for over 30 years.
Frances Jackson of Jersey City was injured when she pushed three children to safety and out of the path of a drunk driver speeding through the intersection where she is a crossing guard.
2002*
James Heenan of Westville, a volunteer with Verga Fire Company in West Deptford, perished from injuries received while attempting to rescue residents from a fire.
Susan A. Nobleman of Green Village launched the Teen Institute of the Garden State (TIGS) and The Willow Tree, programs that motivate teens to make a positive difference in their communities.
Dr. Anna E. Sweany of Middletown founded Our Lady of Providence Free Medical Clinic in Neptune to serve the working poor without medical insurance.
*Special recognition also was granted to twelve heroes of September 11, 2001.
2001
Sandra Ramos of Ringwood founded the nation's first battered women's shelter in 1970 and continues to serve as director of Strengthen Our Sisters.
Dana Leigh Christmas of Paterson endangered her own life to save others when fire broke out in a dormitory at Seton Hall University.
Joseph C. Martoccia of Pompton Lakes founded and was an active member of the First Aid Squad since its inception in 1936, accepting his award at the age of 97.
2000
Terrence Hoben of Bound Brook was responsible for rescuing approximately 300 Bound Brook residents during floods caused by Hurricane Floyd.
Carey Jenkins of Wyckoff founded Operation Link Up to bring together volunteers who mentor West Paterson high school students who wish to pursue a college education.
Claude "Pops" Kranik of Totowa responded to 515 service calls in a single year as a volunteer with Totowa's First Aid Squad and Fire Department and the West Paterson Fire Department.
1999
Beverly Turner of Irvington, who is single and has a disability, adopted 13 children with serious medical conditions.
James C. Joiner of Paterson, a school principal, founded an after-school mentoring and recreation program.
Freddie Hoffman of River Edge has made raising money for the Leukemia Foundation his lifelong mission.
1998
Paul Burns of Bogota founded Salt of the Earth to assist the homeless in Hackensack.
Patricia Williams Chisolm of Short Hills, foster mother to 126 children, founded Children Together, a pilot program to allow siblings to stay together.
Jerry Gray of Irvington suffered severe burns when he and his best friend ran into a burning building to save children who lived there. His friend lost his life.
1997
Jean Webster of Atlantic City fed disadvantaged people every day, frequently from her own pocket and in her own home.
Richard and Maureen Kanka of Hamilton Township founded the Megan Nicole Kanka Foundation to increase public awareness about the danger posed to children by convicted sex offenders.
Reverend Edwin D. Leahy O.S.B., of Newark is headmaster of St. Benedict's Prep, where more than 95 percent of the school's graduates have gone on to higher learning.
The Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference is
Administered by Ramapo College of New Jersey
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