Spencer Chaisanguanthum Receives Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award
Last month, Spencer Chaisanguanthum, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Eloquence Academy, received the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award.
More than three decades ago, New Jersey businessman 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. What Berrie established—the Making a Difference Award—has now honored over 485 individuals from all 21 countries of New Jersey. Honorees have touched millions of lives and driven meaningful change on issues ranging from youth development to environmental protection to food security. In its final year, the program exclusively awarded members of Generation Z, ensuring that its values continue through those who will carry this work forward.
c/o Ramapo College of New Jersey
“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. 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.”
c/o Ramapo College of New Jersey
The award process is administered annually by Ramapo College of New Jersey with support from the Russell Berrie Foundation. Throughout January and February, nominees were received, blind-reviewed, and background checked by a governance committee, who identified values of compassion, courage, and innovation. Since 1997, over 5,000 nominations have been submitted, representing a selection rate of 10%.
An in-person ceremony occurred in Mahwah, New Jersey on May 8, 2026, where Spencer received a tribute, plaque, and $5,000 prize. The livestream is available now and can be shared and viewed at any time. Furthermore, Spencer was selected as one of three of this year’s honorees who best demonstrate a “sophisticated grasp of logistics and social entrepreneurship” and “represent the breadth of impact and the spirit of the award.” His story was amplified in Business in New Jersey Everyday (BINJE) and the Paramus Post.
“We’ve seen 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 and share their experiences. As this chapter closes, we’re not ending that work, we’re passing the torch to the next generation of community leaders.”
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Eloquence Academy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and 509(a)(2) public charity dedicated to increasing equitable academic debate opportunities for rural and historically underserved students. The Academy has offered live debate programs for 3,000 students, partnerships with 116 schools and nonprofit organizations, and online debate resources for 16,084 students. EA stands as the largest youth-led debate accessibility nonprofit in the world and has prepared students across 50 states and 102 countries for college readiness, career engagement, and community impact. Follow on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
