Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award

In the U.S., over half a million people experience homelessness. ?? For many, finding help feels impossible—but advocates like Paul Nickels are changing that. A 2021 Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award Honoree, Paul created the Homeless Resource Guide to connect people in Bergen County with free resources for housing, mental health, addiction, and more. His work has become a vital tool, even used by the court system to support individuals transitioning from homelessness or incarceration.? We especially recognize him during Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week. ?? Learn more about his advocacy and resources at hrgmediaorg.wordpress.com. #Homelessness #HomelessnessAwareness #NewJersey #NJ

These remarkable foster and adoptive parents opened their hearts and homes to hundreds of children across New Jersey: ??Linda Yolman: As a dedicated foster mother with Bethany Christian Services, Children’s Aid and Family Services, and the Division of Youth and Family Services, Linda opened her home to 144 children over 32 years, with a lifetime total of 198 fostered children. She passed away on July 17, 2021, leaving a legacy of compassion and commitment to foster care. ??Beverly Turner: Despite living with myasthenia gravis, Beverly has dedicated her life to children with special needs. Told as a teen she couldn’t have children, she now cares for 13, including eight she’s adopted. Through resilience and love, she’s created a warm, welcoming 16-room home in Irvington. ??Phyllis DiNardi: After fostering 49 children, Phyllis founded We Are Loved Nonprofit to support New Jersey’s foster care families. Her organization empowers foster children with resources, training, and a loving community, addressing the unique needs of these under-resourced youth. ??Janet Farrand: President of Foster and Adoptive Family Services (now embrella) for over 20 years, Janet has advocated tirelessly for foster youth. She founded the Fostering Wishes for Children program, granting over 1,200 wishes, and helped pass the Tuition Waiver Bill, enabling foster youth to pursue higher education. Janet and her husband have fostered many children and adopted two. ??Pat Chisholm: Foster mother to 126 children, Pat founded Children Together to keep siblings together in foster care and launched Just Babies to ensure quick placement for “border babies.” Pat’s dedication has transformed the lives of countless children, even as she has faced her own health battles. ??Patricia & Raymon Dansen: For over a decade, Patricia and Raymond have fostered 29 children, many with life-threatening medical needs, while also raising five children of their own, two of whom are adopted. Their unwavering love and care have helped countless children heal and grow, creating a lasting legacy of compassion and dedication. These honorees remind us of the power of commitment and care. This month, we celebrate their remarkable contributions to foster and adoptive care. #NationalAdoptionMonth #Changemakers #Adoption #FosterCare

Today, we thank all our veterans for their service to our country ?? We honor your sacrifices and express our deepest gratitude for all you’ve given.? #VeteransDay #Changemakers #NewJersey #MakingADifference

As we commemorate Kristallnacht, we also honor Maud Dahme, a Holocaust survivor and lifelong advocate for Holocaust education. ?? Kristallnacht, or the “Night of Broken Glass,” was an attack on Jewish communities across Nazi Germany in 1938, marking a dark escalation in the persecution of Jews. Maud, who survived the Holocaust as a hidden child in the Netherlands, has dedicated her life to ensuring that the memory of these events endures. Through her work with the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education and leading hundreds of educators on tours of concentration camps, she has helped countless others understand the importance of remembrance. #HolocaustEducation #NewJersey #NJ

Over a decade ago, Dr. Norma Bowe founded Be the Change NJ at Kean University, a volunteer community service and activist organization addressing social justice issues in NJ and beyond.?Since then, Norma and volunteers have shown up every week to deliver food and support to homeless individuals in Newark—no matter the challenges. ?? In 2023 alone, she launched an Emergency Pandemic Food Pantry that served nearly 47,000 meals and created a Mobile Vaccine Clinic to reach marginalized communities. As a 2023 Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award Honoree, Norma’s impact is felt statewide, from supporting elderly individuals in tent encampments to helping vulnerable families. This Homelessness Awareness Month, we’re inspired by her dedication to ensuring no one is left behind. #BeTheChange #HomelessnessAwarenessMonth #Newark #NewJersey

Voting is a powerful way each of us can drive positive change, just as our honorees do in their communities every day. From advancing education and fighting for food security to protecting the environment and supporting vulnerable populations, our honorees are proof that meaningful impact takes many forms. Whether big or small, every action counts. ??? Make change in your own way today by exercising your right to vote!? #ElectionDay #Vote #Changemakers #NJ

In memory of Deacon Ray Chimileski, a man who saw a need and answered with unwavering compassion. ?? Ray, founder of OPERATION CHILLOUT, Inc. and a 2008 Honoree, died Monday, October 28th. He dedicated his life to helping homeless veterans and those struggling through the coldest months, providing backpacks filled with warmth and essentials to thousands across New Jersey. What began as an effort to help three homeless veterans, grew into a statewide mission that continues to engage volunteers from all walks of life in his vision of hope. A Deacon, community leader, and friend to all in need, Ray's legacy will endure through the lives he touched and the compassion he inspired. ??? May his light continue to shine through Operation Chillout and beyond.? #VeteranSupport #NewJersey #MakingADifference

On the 12 year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, we remember the remarkable resilience and compassion of Regina Coyle, a 2013 Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award honoree. In the aftermath of the storm, Regina transformed St. Margaret of Cortona’s Parish Hall into a lifeline for her Little Ferry and Moonachie neighbors, providing shelter, food, and essential supplies to hundreds who had lost everything. ?? When the shelter itself flooded, she led evacuations by boat and returned to organize aid for 250-300 residents daily, ensuring no one faced the crisis alone. Regina’s unwavering support has continued for years, offering a beacon of hope and healing to her community. #HurricaneSandy #MakingADifference #NewJersey

During LGBTQ History Month, we honor the legacy of James Credle, a lifelong advocate who led with courage and compassion. ????? From his early days at Rutgers-Newark, where he stood up for racial justice, to his role as a co-founder of the Newark Pride Alliance, James spent decades fighting for equality and safe spaces for the LGBTQ community. His work in HIV prevention and his dedication to addressing violence and bullying have left an indelible mark on New Jersey and beyond. Although James passed in April 2023, his impact will never be forgotten. Today, we look to leaders like Robt Martin Seda-Schreiber of the BAYARD RUSTIN CENTER FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, who continue the fight for a more inclusive and equitable future. The next generation stands on the shoulders of giants like James, and we are grateful for their unwavering dedication to creating a better, safer, and more inclusive world. #LGBTQHistoryMonth #NewarkPride #LGBTQAdvocacy #NewJersey

For National Book Month, we celebrate Larry Abrams, a 2021 Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award honoree and the founder of BookSmiles. ?? Larry has dedicated his life to ending "book deserts" in South Jersey and the Delaware Valley, ensuring that underserved children have access to books in their homes and schools. Since starting BookSmiles in 2017, he has distributed nearly 2.5 million books, allowing children to build their own personal libraries and teachers to stock their classrooms. Larry's mission to promote literacy has empowered countless children, educators, and families. Watch as one teacher visits BookSmiles to gather books for their students—helping Larry's vision of a book-rich future become a reality. #NationalBookMonth #LiteracyForAll #NewJersey #Literacy