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.

Since 1997, a total of 380 of New Jersey’s most dedicated citizens have been honored with this prestigious award. Honorees from each of New Jersey’s 21 counties have been recognized.

These Honorees have received more than $3.75 million in cash awards in recognition of the personal sacrifices and commitment they’ve made to serve others.

The Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award is a signature program of the Russell Berrie Foundation, which carries out the legacy of Russ Berrie by continuing to recognize New Jersey’s Unsung Heroes each year.

Links to Recent Making a Difference Honorees and Their Organizations

2021 Honorees 

• Dion Cucuta, Jr.:  Disabled Combat Veterans Youth Programs, Hot Wheels, Table to Table Tuesday, Teaneck
• Maria Torres:  United Community Corporation Champion House Food Pantry, Newark 
• Kim Gaddy: South Ward Environmental Alliance and New Jersey Clean Water Action, Newark
• Larry Abrams: BookSmiles, Cherry Hill 
• Amanda Ebokosia: The GEM Project, Bloomfield  
• Wilhelmina Holder: High School Academic Support Program and Newark Secondary Parents Council, Newark
• Emma and Quinn Joy:  Girls Helping Girls, Period. South Orange
• Jerry Maziarz:  St. Joseph’s Social Service Center, Elizabeth
• Sharron Miller:  Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts, Montclair
• Paul Nickles:  Homeless Resource Guide, Hackensack
• Sheryl Olitzky: Sisterhood Salaam Shalom, North Brunswick
• Lynn Regan:  CFC Loud N Clear Foundation, Farmingdale
• Phil Stafford: NJ Food and Clothing Rescue, Lodi
• Paul Winslow: Students2Science, East Hanover
• Donna York: HARK-ALS, Hillsborough
• Rosa Zaremba: MA of New Jersey, South Plainfield 

* Note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Award Ceremony was cancelled.  The 2021 Honorees represent people nominated in 2020 and/or 2021.

2019 Honorees

• Fraidy Reiss: Unchained At Last, Union County  
• Karen Monroy: Ability2Work & Grateful Bites Cafe, Flemington
• Melina Garcia: Union City Music Project, Union City
• Bridget Cutler: Moms Helping Moms Foundation, Plainfield 
• Suzann Goldstein:  The Valerie Fund, Maplewood
• Alexa Grabelle: Bags of Books, Voorhees
• Tom von Oehsen:  Trenton Circus Squad, Trenton 

2018 Honorees

• Benigno “Pino” Rodriquez:  Camden Block Supporter Initiative, Camden
• Melissa Gertz: Community Justice Center, Trenton
• Toba Grossbaum: LifeTown, Livingston
• A’Dorian Murray-Thomas: SHE Wins, Newark
• Jodi O’Donnell-Ames: Hope Loves Company, Pennington
• Don Quigley, Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide, Freehold
• Carla Scarabino, The Beauty Foundation for Cancer Care, Tinton Falls

2017 Honorees

• Bonnie O’Brien, Transition Professionals, Hackensack
• Tricia & Kurt Baker, Attitudes in Reverse, Plainsboro
• Brenda Antinore, She Has a Name, Camden
• Lorna Henkel, First Friends of NJ & NY, Kearny
• Marlene Ceragno, Adult Care Brief Bank, Tenafly
• Danielle Gletow, One Simple Wish, Trenton
• Katelyn Darrow, Angels Community Outreach, Pitman

 2016 Honorees

• Chief Vincent Mann, Turtle Clan, Ramapough Lenape Nation
• Julia Quinlan, Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, Newton 
• Faye Zealand, AIDS Resource Foundation for Children, Newark
• Adam Lowy, Move for Hunger, Red Bank
• Betty Prezzy Bryant, Institute of Music for Children, Elizabeth
• Connie Mercer, HomeFront, Trenton
• Lisa Gladwell, NJ Recovery Advocates, River Edge
• Jane and Joseph Clementi, Tyler Clementi Foundation
• Seth Grumet, Stomp the Monster, Marlboro

2015 Honorees

• Dominique Lee, BRICK Education Network, Newark
• Linda Gillick, Ocean of Love, Toms River
• Paige Alenick, Donate a Toothbrush, Westwood
• Dora Arias, Curemonos, Summit
• Eileen Griffith, Community Hope, Parsippany
• Tom Cash, Student Partner Alliance, Newark

2014 Honorees

• Joyce Jenkins, Paul McGuire Family Health Center, Freehold
• Joseph Blythe, Meals with a Mission, Garfield
• Edith Coogan, Raphael’s Life House, Elizabeth
• Zamir Hassan, Muslims Against Hunger, Bedminster
• Keely Freeman, Sierra House, East Orange
• Lisa Goldman & Rita Yohalem, Opportunity Project, Millburn
• Tawanda Jones, Camden Sophisticated Sisters, Camden
• R. Brian Ullman, DDS, Eva’s Village, Paterson

2013 Honorees

• Robert Clark, Youth Build, Newark
• Jack Fanous, GI Go Fund, Newark 
• Adele Katz, Sister to Sister, Montclair
• Jennifer Papa, City Green, Clifton
• Richard Pompelio, New Jersey Crime Victims Law Center, Newton
• Suzanne Stigers, Connect for Community, Sparta
• Ann Wagner, Oasis, Paterson

2012 Honorees

• Blanca Molina, Centro en Union para El Salvador (CEUS), Union City
• Zachary Certner, Special Needs Athletic Program, Morristown
• Janet Farrand, Foster and Adoptive Family Services, Princeton
• Eric Fuchs-Stengel, Mahwah Environmental Volunteers Organization (MEVO), Mahwah
• Barry Hackett, South Jersey Field of Dreams, Absecon
• JoAnn McCullough, IMANI, Montclair
• Clark and Jean Paradise, Your Grandmother’s Cupboard, Toms River
• Malcolm Sutherland-Foggio, Make Some Noise, Morristown

2011 Honorees

• Cathy Carisi, Camp Acorn, Allendale
• Jane Fiedler, Zoe’s Place, Ridgewood
• Gary Oppenheimer, AmpleHarvest.org, Newfoundland

2010 Honorees

• Dr. Eugene Cheslock, Parker Family Health Center, Red Bank
• Chip Paillex, America’s Grow a Row, Pittstown
• Claire Insalata Poulos, Table to Table, Englewood
• Erica Rech & Michael Ruane, Breast Intentions, Middletown
• Faith Rice, NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome, Piscataway
• Natasha Rodgers, Simuel Whitfield Simmons Organization, Somerset

2009 Honorees

• Jane Hanson, Partners for Women and Justice, Bloomfield
• Daniela Mendelssohn, ArtWorks, The Naomi Cohain Foundation, Englewood
• Baye Wilson, Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District, Newark 

2008 Honorees

• Chaya Bender, Special Children’s Center, Lakewood
• Ray Chimileski, Operation Chillout, Long Valley
• William Elliot, Hero Campaign for Designated Drivers, Galloway

2007 Honorees

• Dana Katzman-Spett, Pony Power Therapies, Mahwah
• Patricia Kettenring, GlassRoots, Newark