Mahwah February 8, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 13 Foundation accepts nominations for Russ Berrie Award Nominations for the 2012 Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference will be accepted by The Russell Berrie Foundation through March 9. New Jerseyans who have made a significant difference in their communities through a heroic effort or a lifetime of service are eligible for cash awards of up to $50,000. Members of the community are invited to nominate New Jersey residents whose deeds, carried out in the state, make them worthy of recognition. Established in 1996 by the late Russell Berrie, founder of Russ Berrie and Company, Inc., and Ramapo College of New Jersey, the awards honor the state’s unsung heroes. Up to 11 individuals will be recognized for making a significant difference to the well-being of their communities during the annual spring award ceremony at Ramapo College in Mahwah. The Russell Berrie Foundation will provide monetary awards of up to $50,000, $35,000 and $25,000 and runner-up grants of $5,000 . “Through this award, we honor the contributions of people who don’t seek recognition for what they do, yet generously give of themselves to make the world a better place,” said Angelica Berrie of Englewood, president of the Russell Berrie Foundation. Nominees will be reviewed by an advisory board co-chaired by Josh S. Weston, honorary chairman, Automatic Data Processing, Inc., and Dr. Peter P. Mercer, president of Ramapo College of New Jersey. The board, comprised of eminent New Jersey business leaders and professionals, will evaluate nominations submitted by community groups, houses of worship, educators, representatives of the media, and others. Following this evaluation, based on criteria refined by the board, the group will present the awards at a ceremony on May 9. Last year, the top honorees included the founder of a summer/winter social and recreational program for children and young adults with multiple disabilities, a neighbor who stopped an assault in progress and suffered injuries in the process, and a family nominated for their collective years of service with a first aid squad. For more information on The Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference or to nominate someone, please contact: The Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference, c/o Office of the President, Ramapo College of New Jersey, 505 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, New Jersey 07430. For details, phone (201) 684-6259. Forms are also available at www.russellberriefoundation.org or http://www. ramapo.edu/news/events/berrieawards/. Angelica Berrie, wife of the late Russ Berrie, heads the Russell Berrie Foundation in its work to foster continuity and enrichment of Jewish communal life, support issues of health with an emphasis on diabetes and humanism in medicine, and recognize individuals who have made a significant difference in the lives of others. Ramapo College’s campus center for performing and visual arts – the site of the Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference ceremony – is named in honor of both Russ and Angelica Berrie.