Do YouKnow anUnsung

LOCALHERO?

It’s time to nominate your own NJ Hero for 2018!

Bonnie O’BrienFounder, Transition ProfessionalsParamus2017 Honoree

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Dear Community Leader,The Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award recognizes those who make New Jersey a better place. Every year the Russell Berrie Foundation honors “unsung” NJ heroes who have made an extraordinary contribution to the common good with the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award. In 2018, we’ll celebrate its 22nd anniversary and the hundreds of NJ heroes who have made a lasting impact in communities around the state.

Up to eleven outstanding individuals can be honored, with top awards of $50,000, $35,000, and $25,000 – and eight awards of $5,000 each.

Please help us celebrate a new class of honorees in 2018 by nominating “unsung” heroes in your community. You may nominate someone for a single act of heroism or for a lifetime of service. An Advisory Board of prominent New Jersey citizens will select the final honorees and they will be recognized at a ceremony in May 2018.

Please pass this information along to others and help us spread the word about this unique opportunity to honor those who are serving others in extraordinary ways.

Would you kindly place the accompanying poster in a prominent place at your organization or in the community?Visit our website at berrieawards.ramapo.edu to learn more, read about past honorees, and complete an online nomination. Or use the enclosed form to submit a nomination. You may also call us at 201-684-7458 or email madaawards@ramapo.edu for more information. All nominations must be postmarked or submitted by February 16, 2018.

Thank you for helping us identify deserving NJ heroes to honor with the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award.

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Angelica Berrie Peter P. Mercer Josh WestonPresident President Honorary ChairmanRussell Berrie Ramapo College Automatic DataFoundation of New Jersey Processing, Inc. Co-Chair, Co-Chair, Advisory Board Advisory Board

Betty Prezzy BryantInstitute of Music for ChildrenHillside 2016 Honoree

Since 1997, the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award has recognized 345 honorees representing every county in New Jersey.

Read more about these local heroes inside!

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The Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award honors unsung local New Jersey heroes by funding three top awards of $50,000, $35,000, and $25,000 as well as up to eight awards of $5,000. The purpose of the award is to recognize individuals who perform extraordinary community service or unusual acts of heroism in our state and those who have made a significant difference to the well-being of society.

Each year, honorees are nominated from all over the state of New Jersey from people who know their work first-hand. An Advisory Board of distinguished New Jersey business and community leaders evaluates the nominations and presents awards at Ramapo College in May. This year’s ceremony will be held on May 4, 2018.

In evaluating nominees, the Advisory Board considers the following criteria:

• What is the scale of accomplishment? Is it unique?

• Does the work inspire others?

• Is the person paid or a volunteer? If paid, is the accomplishment truly above and beyond?

• How enduring is the heroism or sacrifice?

• If a single act, was there a high degree of risk and danger?

• How many people were impacted or influenced?

• Would the award make a significant difference in their lives?

• Was the work carried out in New Jersey?

• You have the opportunity to nominate deserving people from your own community!

For more information or to nominate a local hero online, go to: berrieawards.ramapo.edu Or call 201-684-7458 or email madaawards@ramapo.edu. Nominations must be submitted or postmarked by February 16, 2018.

Please promote this unique awards program by displaying the poster in a prominent place in your community.

RUSS BERRIE 1933 - 2002Russell Berrie founded the Russ Berrie and Company, Inc. (RUSS), a New Jersey-based company, in 1963. Until his death in 2002, Mr. Berrie served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. RUSS and its wholly-owned subsidiaries design, develop, and distribute gift, home decor, infant and juvenile products through retail outlets worldwide.

Mr. Berrie devoted endless time, energy and resources to numerous charitable causes through The Russell Berrie Foundation, created in 1985. As a philanthropist, he supported hundreds of organizations and fostered initiatives that expressed his values, passions and vision in the areas of diabetes, humanism in medicine, Jewish continuity, salesmanship as a profession, arts and culture, honoring New Jersey’s unsung heroes and strengthening communities in northern New Jersey.

The Russell Berrie Foundation continues to proactively identify and support dynamic leaders with the passion, energy and commitment to be the driving force behind programs that fulfill the broad vision of its founder: improving the well-being of society. For more information on the Foundation, please visit: www.russellberriefoundation.org

“Nothing is more important in life than helping a fellow human being.”

Russ Berrie

Read about all the honorees & nominate your own NJ Hero at:

berrieawards.ramapo.edu

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Honoring NJ’s Local Heroes

Since 1997, the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award has recognized

New Jersey’s most exceptional unsung heroes each year for remarkable

work transforming their communities. A total of 345 individuals have

been honored with the award, representing every county in New Jersey.

It’s time to nominate Local Heroes for the 2018 Making a Difference Award!

Visit our website at berrieawards.ramapo.edu to complete an online

application OR download an application form to mail in.

Questions? Call 201-684-7458 or email madaawards@ramapo.edu.

Nominations must be submitted or postmarked by February 16, 2018.

From the CoverIn the 1990’s, Bonnie O’Brien, a human resources professional, was asked to conduct job search training classes for inmates at the Bergen County Jail in Hackensack to prepare them to find employment after release. She soon learned a startling fact: 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 people make a successful journey from incarceration back into society. In 2014, Bonnie formally launched Transition Professionals, a collaboration of volunteers including psychologists, employment specialists, paralegals, not-for-profit professionals, attorneys, licensed social workers, armed services veterans, and faith leaders. Transition Professionals has served hundreds of ex-offenders and their families, providing job search training, counseling, clothing, healthcare, recovery services, housing, and more.

In recognition of her extraordinary work to help people get the second chances they deserve, Bonnie O’Brien was the recipient of the $50,000 Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award in 2017.

“Every day, men and women released from jail or prison are frightened

and sometimes embarrassed to return to their families and community.

When I started Transition Professionals, our objective was to provide basic

needs such as clothing and shelter. We added mental health referrals,

resumé creation, employment search assistance, Narcotics Anonymous

meetings, advocacy and counseling to complete our full service center,

which today is managed by volunteers who help guide and mentor clients

without judgment. Receiving the 2017 Russ Berrie Making a Difference

Award was a tremendous honor that will help us continue the work of

‘making a difference’ and running our organization.”

Losing a child to suicide is unimaginable for any parent. Tricia and Kurt Baker established Attitudes in Reverse® (AIRTM) in 2010, shortly after their son Kenny took his own life after a long battle with severe depression and anxiety. The Bakers founded AIR™ to help children, teens and young adults understand mental health disorders and challenge the stereotypes and stigma that force many to suffer in hopelessness, silence and shame. AIRTM has delivered its interactive educational presentation to more than 60,000 students in middle and high schools and colleges, primarily throughout New Jersey and several other states, so that young people feel comfortable discussing these difficult topics and understand how to get help for themselves or a friend. The Plainsboro couple received the $35,000 Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award in 2017, in recognition of their tireless efforts to prevent youth suicide by educating and equipping young people, parents, school professionals, and community members to handle mental health disorders with compassion, kindness and proper medical care.

“Our life’s mission, through Attitudes In Reverse, is to save young lives. It is an emotional process for us, repeatedly sharing the messages of our son’s life and death, so others may learn, and understand it is OK to ask for help. Sometimes it gets difficult to continue on with the sacrifices we make for this organization. The Russ Berrie Award is an incredible honor and we are humbled to be recipients. To have so many people understand AIRTM’s mission and our personal sacrifices is inspiring for us to find the inner strength to move forward in saving youth.”

Tricia and Kurt BakerFounders, Attitudes in

Reverse®

Plainsboro2017 Honorees

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“Most people do not know that older adults are

becoming homebound because they cannot afford adult

absorbent products. Receiving the Russ Berrie Making a

Difference award has meant two things to me: validation

and hope.

It validates the work that the Adult Care Brief Bank is

doing by collecting and distributing absorbent products to

low income seniors in need is important and that seniors’

issues are being heard. The hope is

that through this recognition, others

will embrace this idea that providing

these products will help our older

adults remain social, mobile and

independent and help reduce the

stigma. I was so honored

and humbled to be among

the other amazing 2017

honorees.

It is proof that one person

can make a difference.”Marlene CeragnoFounder, Adult Care Brief BankFort Lee2017 Honoree

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“I’m so grateful to be selected for the 2017 Russ

Berrie Making a Difference Award. Thank you to

the Russell Berrie Foundation for recognizing my

dedication to The Angels Community Outreach,

the nonprofit organization I founded. All of my

volunteer work is fueled by our clients’ smiles and

hugs, but winning this award was very special. It was

heartwarming and inspiring to be in a room alongside

so many influential individuals. It was a day I will

never forget!”Katelyn Darrow

Founder, The Angels Community

Outreach Pitman

2017 Honoree

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2017Brenda Antinore, CamdenTricia and Kurt Baker, PlainsboroJoseph Brown, GallowayMarlene Ceragno, Fort LeeGilman Choudhury, PatersonKatelyn Darrow, PitmanDanielle Gletow, EwingLorna Henkel, SecaucusKiersten Miles, Sea GirtBonnie O’Brien, ParamusCharles Valentine, North Arlington

2016Ziad Ahmed, Princeton Betty Prezzy Bryant, HillsideJane and Joseph Clementi, RidgewoodLisa Gladwell, River EdgeSeth Grumet, MarlboroAdam Lowy, Asbury ParkVincent Mann, West MilfordConnie Mercer, LawrencevilleJulia Quinlan, NewtonDanny Walls, Elmwood ParkFaye Zealand, Howell

2015Paige Alenick, Woodcliff LakeDora Arias, Mountainside Anthony Bevivino, VillasTom Cash, Short HillsEvangelia “Poppy” Davis, Cherry Hill Linda Gillick, Toms River Eileen Griffith, Chester

Dominique Lee, NewarkAnne Ciavaglia McMahon, Hasbrouck HeightsBrian Meersma, Princeton Junction

2014Joseph Abate III, North Caldwell Joseph Blythe, Hasbrouck Heights Edith Coogan, Cranford Patricia and Raymond Dansen, North Haledon Keely Freeman, East Orange Lisa Goldman, Clifton and Rita Yohalem, West Orange Zamir Hassan, BedminsterJoyce Jenkins, Marlboro Tawanda Jones, Camden William Smith, FairviewDr. Brian Ullman, DDS, Ho-Ho-Kus

2013James Baber, Bayonne Robert Clark, Newark James Credle, Newark Regina Coyle, Little FerryJack Fanous, MarltonEstelle Goldsmith, East BrunswickAdele Katz, Glen Ridge Jennifer Papa, Ringwood Richard Pompelio, Sparta Alec Silverman, Fort LeeSuzanne Stigers, Andover Ann Wagner, Wyckoff

For a comprehensive list of all honorees since 1997, please visit our website: berrieawards.ramapo.edu

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RAMAPO COLLEGE OF N.J.Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college. Ranked among the top colleges in the region by College Choice and recognized by, among others, U.S. News & World Report, Princeton Review, Colleges of Distinction and, also designated by Victory Media as a “Military Friendly College,” Ramapo College is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding.

Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to degrees in Accounting, Business Administration, Educational Technology, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education.

Ziad AhmedFounder, ReDefy.orgPrinceton2016 Honoree