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Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award is sponsored by Russell Berrie Foundation. A signature program of the Russell Berrie Foundation that recognizes unsung heroes and changemakers in New Jersey. For 2026, the award focuses exclusively on Gen Z leaders who demonstrate exceptional commitment to creating positive change in their communities.
Geographic focus: New Jersey
Focus areas: Community & Civic Engagement, Environment and Sustainability, Arts & Culture, Youth Mentoring and Education, Social Entrepreneurship, Advocacy and Social Justice
Official opportunity description and requirements excerpt:
Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award | Honoring New Jersey Residents Skip to content Managed by Ramapo College of New Jersey Honoree Directory and Map Honoree Directory and Map 2026 Making a Difference Award Celebrating Gen Z Changemakers The Next Generation of Leadership Is Already Here For 29 years, the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award has honored exceptional New Jersey residents whose service changes lives. In its 30th and final year, the award will focus exclusively on Gen Z, ages 16–24, amplifying young trailblazers whose innovation, passion, and purpose are redefining what it means to serve. If you teach, mentor, lead a youth program, or work alongside young adults who inspire others, this is your invitation: nominate a Gen Z standout whose work is already making a difference. Deadline for entry: February 13, 2026 $4.4M in cash awards since 1997 in cash awards since 1997 Gen Z brings new perspectives, digital fluency, and bold approaches to solving community and global challenges. They are rising leaders in nonprofits, social enterprises, environmental initiatives, and business with purpose. By recognizing Gen Z leaders, the Making a Difference Award will celebrate its 30 years of impact by investing in the voices and ideas that will shape the future of New Jersey and beyond. Nominate a Gen Z leader using the online nomination form by February 13. A review committee of community and philanthropic leaders evaluates submissions. Finalists are announced in the spring. Winners will be recognized at the annual award ceremony in May 2026 Recipients receive recognition and cash awards. Be a champion for the next generation. Nominate a Gen Z leader today and share this opportunity with your network. “ There’s no greater importance in life than knowing you’ve helped a fellow human being.” 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. Learn more about this unique award and the impact it’s had for nearly 30 years. Use the directory and map to learn more about the past Honorees of the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award and the impact they are making throughout New Jersey. All are shining examples of individuals who saw a need, an injustice, an inequity, or a problem to solve . . . and took action. The work of our past honorees, who have tackled important issues, continues to
Application snapshot: target deadline February 13, 2026; published funding information $5,000 for each of the 15 winners; eligibility guidance New Jersey residents ages 16-24 who have initiated or led a meaningful project or organization, or display exceptional commitment as a volunteer in New Jersey.
Use the official notice and source links for final requirements, attachment checklists, allowable costs, and submission instructions before applying.
Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award | Honoring New Jersey Residents Skip to content Managed by Ramapo College of New Jersey Honoree Directory and Map Honoree Directory and Map 2026 Making a Difference Award Celebrating Gen Z Changemakers The Next Generation of Leadership Is Already Here For 29 years, the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award has honored exceptional New Jersey residents whose service changes lives.
In its 30th and final year, the award will focus exclusively on Gen Z, ages 16–24, amplifying young trailblazers whose innovation, passion, and purpose are redefining what it means to serve. If you teach, mentor, lead a youth program, or work alongside young adults who inspire others, this is your invitation: nominate a Gen Z standout whose work is already making a difference. Deadline for entry: February 13, 2026 $4.
4M in cash awards since 1997 in cash awards since 1997 Gen Z brings new perspectives, digital fluency, and bold approaches to solving community and global challenges. They are rising leaders in nonprofits, social enterprises, environmental initiatives, and business with purpose.
By recognizing Gen Z leaders, the Making a Difference Award will celebrate its 30 years of impact by investing in the voices and ideas that will shape the future of New Jersey and beyond. Nominate a Gen Z leader using the online nomination form by February 13. A review committee of community and philanthropic leaders evaluates submissions.
Finalists are announced in the spring. Winners will be recognized at the annual award ceremony in May 2026 Recipients receive recognition and cash awards. Be a champion for the next generation.
Nominate a Gen Z leader today and share this opportunity with your network. “ There’s no greater importance in life than knowing you’ve helped a fellow human being.
” 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. Learn more about this unique award and the impact it’s had for nearly 30 years.
Use the directory and map to learn more about the past Honorees of the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award and the impact they are making throughout New Jersey. All are shining examples of individuals who saw a need, an injustice, an inequity, or a problem to solve . .
. and took action. The work of our past honorees, who have tackled important issues, continues to make profound differences for NJ residents.
Learn more about these remarkable individuals through their stories. Shining the Light on New Jersey’s Gen Z Changemakers—Honorees Who Made a Difference at a Young Age As the Making a Difference Award shifts to recognize Gen Z leaders in 2026, we look back at some Honorees whose work to improve communities and the lives of NJ residents began in their teens or college years.
Saranne Rothberg: Meeting Cancer Head-On with Humor October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the perfect time to shine our light on Saranne Rothberg, a 2003 Making a Difference Award Honoree. A stage IV triple negative breast cancer survivor, Saranne founded ComedyCures in 1999 after her cancer diagnosis.
Meet Lewis Spears: Transforming Lives Among Jersey City’s Youth at Risk As a middle school teacher, Lewis Spears saw so many young men failing to thrive and barely surviving school. They were being disciplined, detained and suspended, and doing poorly academically, stuck in a cycle without positive opportunities for their future. He set out to change that when he launched Kismet of Kings in 2013.
‘Do the Right Thing’: Residents, Environmental Advocates Push to Stop West Essex Highlands Project Mann spoke to the board Wednesday of the sacred history of the land that would be built on and what would be lost. Fearing ICE, some NJ residents carry passport cards, seek training “These are lonely times for us,” Mejia said. “We do not know who to trust.
” ‘No minimum age’ | Former child brides demand California set 18 as the minimum age for marriage Most people just don’t know that child marriage is legal,” said Fraidy Reiss, founder of Unchained at Last, the group leading the fight to ban.
Honoring Garden State residents whose outstanding community service and heroic acts have made a substantial impact on the lives of others Supported by the Russell Berrie Foundation Managed by Ramapo College of New Jersey Site by Rapunzel Creative We’ll send you all the information you need right to your inbox with instructions on how to nominate someone in your community for a Making a Difference Award.
By signing-up you will receive weekly emails keeping you informed about the nomination process and deadlines, featured nominees and the Making a Difference Awards. You can opt out at any time. Honoree Directory and Map Honoree Directory and Map
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: New Jersey residents ages 16-24 who have initiated or led a meaningful project or organization, or display exceptional commitment as a volunteer in New Jersey. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates $5,000 for each of the 15 winners Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is February 13, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
