Nominate Your Local Hero For a Cash Award

Who do you love in your town? Who is your local hero? If you know someone how has made a significant difference in your town through a lifetime of service or a heroic effort of some kind, you can nominate that person for the 2012 Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference.

According to the Russ Berrie Foundation, the awards honor “unsung heroes” from throughout the state. Up to 11 individuals will be recognized for making a significant difference to the well being of their community. The Russell Berrie Foundation will provide monetary awards of up to $50,000, $35,000 and $25,000 as well as runner-up grants of $5,000 each. 

 “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.

When you nominate people for this award, let us at Patch know who they are too. We’d love to write a story on them.

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 who 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
Phone:  201.684.6259.

Nomination forms are also available on the Internet at www.russellberriefoundation.org or http://www.ramapo.edu/news/events/berrieawards/.  The deadline for entries is March 9.