30 YEARS OF IMPACT: RUSS BERRIE MAKING A DIFFERENCE AWARD HONORS 30 UNSUNG HEROES, INCLUDING 15 GEN Z HONOREES

Russell Berrie Foundation Celebrates Honorees at 30th Annual Ceremony, Highlights a Legacy That Lives on Through the Next Generation 

MAHWAH, NJ - Thirty years ago, a New Jersey businessman named Russ Berrie gathered friends, family, and colleagues around his dining room table to share his vision of celebrating and investing in unsung heroes who make a difference in New Jersey. The program he established, The Making a Difference Award, had a ripple effect over the years, honoring hundreds of individuals making an impact. Together, they have driven meaningful change on issues ranging from youth development and environmental protection to food security and community-based initiatives, touching millions of lives.  

Since its founding in 1997, the award has recognized 485 individuals from all 21 counties of New Jersey and provided more than $4.7 million to support their work. 

“This award has always been a reflection of Russ’s belief in ordinary people doing extraordinary things. He knew that when you invest in one person, the impact doesn’t stop, it grows. The Making a Difference Award has created a network of hundreds of individuals whose work continues to ripple through New Jersey and beyond,” said Angelica Berrie, President of the Russell Berrie Foundation. “This year, to move the program into the future, we are honoring our first ever group of Gen Z changemakers as well as individuals nominated by past honorees. This is Russ’ lasting legacy: to connect the past to the future and create a community of individuals who, together, are making a positive impact.”  

That collective impact can be seen in leaders like Fraidy Reiss, who grew Unchained At Last into a national organization working to end forced and child marriage in the U.S.; Adam Lowy, whose Move For Hunger network has delivered millions of meals to families in need; Kim Gaddy, whose decades of environmental justice advocacy helped advance some of the strongest legislation in the nation; and Riccardo Dale, whose Free All Minds Academy is shaping future leaders with a 100% high school graduation rate and more than $1.4 million in scholarship funds raised. These honorees represent a powerful network of changemakers whose combined work continues to create lasting impact. 

As the program concludes, it is ensuring that the values it was built on continue through those who will carry this work forward. For the first time, 15 Gen Z Making a Difference Awards will be presented to young leaders whose work is already shaping our future. A collective spirit is at the heart of this year’s 15 Grow the Ripple of Positive Change honorees, who were nominated by the network of 450+ past recipients. These honorees represent community activation, where one person’s work sparks another’s, and where past and present honorees can connect, share progress, and continue making a difference together. 

“This program has always been about the power of one person to make a difference, and over 30 years, we’ve seen that impact grow far beyond what my father ever imagined,” said Scott Berrie, Vice President of the Russell Berrie Foundation. “What makes this moment so meaningful is not just the individuals we honor, but the community they’ve built together. We’re seeing honorees lift one another up, share their experiences, and create a ripple effect that continues to expand. As this chapter closes, we’re not ending that work, we’re passing the torch to the next generation of community leaders.” 

Here are a few of this year’s honorees, several individuals reflecting the breadth of impact and the spirit of the Making a Difference Award: 

Select Gen Z Making a Difference Honorees: 

Sri Nihal Tammana, Monroe Township — Launched a global initiative to ensure safe, sustainable battery recycling that has recycled more than 750,000 batteries while engaging hundreds of schools and student leaders.  

Spencer Chaisanguanthum, Tenafly — Founded a tuition-free debate and public speaking program reaching more than 3,000 students across 35 states and 19 countries.  

Giuliana Demma, Freehold — Mobilized more than 500 volunteers to create custom pediatric hospital gowns, reaching 3,000 patients across 47 states and 9 countries.  

Select Grow the Ripple of Positive Change Honorees: 

Mark Valli, Sussex County (nominated by Peg Wright, 2025 Honoree) – Leads Norwescap, delivering wraparound services that support housing, job training, and long-term stability for more than 30,000 individuals and families.  

Ronsha Dickerson, Camden County (nominated by Desi Shelton, 2025 Honoree) – Founder of Community Doulas of South Jersey, building a growing network of trained doulas to address disparities in Black maternal health.  

Katelyn Baker, Mercer County (nominated by Tricia Baker, 2018 Honoree) – Leader of AIR Dogs: Paws for Minds, expanding a school-based therapy dog program providing mental health support to students across the region. 

The full list of 2026 honorees:  

Gen Z Making a Difference Honorees  

Aidan Barth & Abigail Franco, LINC Program, Union County 

Alias Ragsdale, Clifton Board of Education, Passaic County 

Aliza Lopez, Medicine Encompassed, Middlesex County 

Ava Costa, Arturo Healing Hearts, Middlesex County 

Eddi Raymond, Bergen County LGBTQ+ Alliance, Bergen County 

Erielys Vicente, Neighborhood Collaborative Community Gardens, Camden County 

Ezra Fineman, The Hyper IgM Podcast, Bergen County 

Giuliana Demma, GS Giving Gowns, Monmouth County 

Kavin Arora, Mission Impact, Mercer County 

Lakita Lloyd, SHE Wins Inc., Essex County 

Landon Hoberman, Student Environmental Ambassador Program, Ocean County 

Rashanna James-Frison, Girls, Live, Love, Laugh Inc., Essex County 

Spencer Chaisanguanthum, Eloquence Academy, Inc., Bergen County 

Sri Nihal Tammana, Recycle My Battery, Middlesex County 

Sylvia Brown, Girl Scouts of the USA, Bergen County 

Grow the Ripple of Positive Change Honorees  

Beatriz Rodriguez, CEUS, Hudson County 

Christine Baugh, We Are Loved, Ocean County 

Dr. Alice Terrell-Bryant, Lemonaid Foundation for Endometriosis, Essex County 

Dr. Lawrence Boyd III, HELP Self Community Development Corp, Mercer County 

Julie Kinner, Table to Table, Bergen County 

Kathleen Lynn, CEUS, Hudson County 

Katelyn Baker, AIR Dogs: Paws for Minds, Mercer County 

Louis Quinones, Community Lifestyle, Hudson County 

Mark Valli, Norwescap, Sussex County 

Mona Patel, Urban Revival, Middlesex County 

Paul Shackford, Family Promise, Bergen County 

Ronsha Dickerson, Community Doulas of South Jersey, Camden County 

Susan Long, Angels in Motion, Atlantic County 

Terry McMillian, Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice, Mercer County 

Violet Reed, MEVO, Bergen County 

All 30 honorees will be recognized at the Making a Difference Awards Ceremony on May 8, 2026 at Ramapo College of New Jersey in Mahwah, NJ. The college has administered the Making a Difference Award since its inception.  

About The Russell Berrie Foundation  
The Russell Berrie Foundation identifies visionaries, institutions, and unsung heroes doing groundbreaking work and amplifies their impact with financial and strategic support. Focusing primarily on Northern New Jersey and Israel, the Foundation invests in leaders and organizations working to cultivate thriving Jewish communities, build bridges across differences, strengthen an inclusive and resilient Israel, and drive breakthroughs in diabetes care.  

Learn more at www.russellberriefoundation.org/.  

About Ramapo College  

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, 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 master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.