PBS premiere of “Blood Sugar Rising”

Please join me tonight Wednesday, April 15 at 9 p.m. ET to watch PBS premiere of  “Blood Sugar Rising,” a documentary on the diabetes epidemic that affects over 100 million people in America, costing more than $325 billion each year and will affect more than half of the U.S. population by 2025. 

Now, more than ever, diabetics are at risk with COVID-19. 

The Russell Berrie Foundation supports this documentary and the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia University Medical Center. 

The 2019 Russ Berrie Making A Difference Award

We are very proud of the 2019 Russ Berrie Making A Difference Award Honorees!

Learn more about each of these extraordinary individuals and how they are making New Jersey a better place.

Congratulations to you all! 

Meet the 2019 Honorees of the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award and hear them share their stories. 

Congratulations for making a difference in your communities and in our world! 

Honoring Lives Lost at the Tree of Life Synagogue

October 30, 2018

We are all devastated by the senseless loss of lives in the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. This heinous slaughter was more than an act of terrorism and anti-Semitism.

It is a manifestation of the growing cancer within our society that has erupted in our most sacred spaces: schools where our children should feel safe, places where we worship — mosques, churches and synagogues.

We mourn for lives lost but we also mourn the loss of civility, common decency, respect for each other’s differences, tolerance, security and the values of shared humanity that hold our nation together.

As we struggle to rise above partisanship and the divisive climate that engulfs our better selves, we must rise to the task of healing our world by guarding the values that make us a great nation. In times of crisis, we must build bridges between faiths, cultures and peoples to create a better world.

We are a resilient people. We have survived worse threats and overcome racial hatred and intolerance. We have stood up for those without power. We have a responsibility to  care for our fellow human beings.

We honor the memory of those we lost by doing all we can to repair our world.

This moment is a challenge to each of us and we must do what we can and be equal to the task!

Angelica Berrie

President, Board of Trustees

The Russell Berrie Foundation

Making a Difference 2018

After a brief hiatus, I am easing my way back with this speech from the 22nd Russ Berrie Making A Difference Awards. 

Every day, in every facet of our lives, opportunities to lead call out to us. At work and at home, in our local communities and in the global village, the chance to make a difference beckons to us.

Asia, Israel and the Jewish World

As Co-Chair of The Jewish Funders Network, I have the pleasure of being part of a philanthropic circle of peers who practice the art of giving. Generosity is our calling card and our reward is meeting inspiring people on this lifelong learning journey.

back – l-r, Debbie Dadon, Simone Szalmuk-Singer, Tracie Olcha, Belinda Bardas
front – Sam Lipski, Angelica Berrie, Solina Chau (Executive Director,
Li Ka Shing Foundation), Andres Spokoiny

The Jewish Funders Network Asia conference in Hongkong, organized by the Australian Jewish Funders and the Pratt Foundation, focused on “Asia, Israel and the Jewish World.”

Asian philanthropy has a long history in Hongkong and two of its most prominent Foundations were our guest speakers - Ronnie Chan of the Morningside Foundation and Solina Chau, Director of the Li Ka Shing Foundation. 

Living Mindfully in the Digital Age

In a digital world, we suffer from a wealth of information and a poverty of attention. Distracted by the constant feed of brain stimuli, we forget what it means to inhabit our lives. We look without seeing as we multitask through the day, depriving ourselves of the gift of being present.

Listening to Jon Kabat-Zinn, Daniel Goldman, Richard Davison and Sharon Salzberg, thought leaders in the field of mindfulness, I shut down my phone to shut off the world and listen deeply to wisdom shared by Arianna Huffington, Jewel and others at Wisdom 2.0's Mindfulness in America Summit.

Be Here Now is my favorite mantra yet it it the lesson I am prone to forgetting. Even harder to master is the Buddhist core of compassion practice, to begin by being compassionate with myself. We are here also to care for our selves.

How Women Lead in Philanthropy

“We are all more capable than we could ever imagine or admit to. We need to make sure that we are using that power now, and not waiting for a different time or when we’re more ready. We’re ready now. We need to do.” ~ Priscilla Chan Zuckerberg

When my husband, Russ Berrie, died in 2002 my philanthropic journey took a lonely turn. The gift of that harrowing loss was life-saving as it gave me the opportunity to embark on a lifelong learning journey that I could never have imagined.

Finding my voice as a woman in philanthropy, discovering other women who shared the wisdom of experience with me, learning by doing how philanthropy expresses who you are in how you give, taught me leadership lessons that no philanthropy guru could ever impart.

Rebecca Gratz painted by Thomas Sully, 1831

The landscape in relation to women and philanthropy is shifting. While women today own one-third of America's private businesses and control more than 51% of the wealth in the United States, the perception exists that "women don’t give big donations" and "women have to ask their husbands before they can give money."

Fourth of July

Langston Hughes' poem stirs memories of the American Dream - what America used to be, a country of immigrants who made it the great nation it is today.

O, let America be America again

The land that never has been

— The land that never has been

yet— And yet must be—the land

where every man is free.

The land that's mine—the poor

man's, Indian's, Negro's, ME—

Who made America, Whose

sweat and blood, whose faith

and pain, Whose hand at the

foundry, whose plow in the rain,

Must bring back our mighty

dream again. 

*NPR: Lin-Manuel Miranda has released an incredibly striking and stylized music video — really more of an impressionistic mini-film — for the song "Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)" featuring K'NAAN, Snow Tha Product, Riz MC and Residente.

She-roes: Power. Wisdom. Compassion. Wonder.

In 1941 when female superheroes were rare, Wonder Woman was created by William Moulton Marston, a psychologist who invented the lie-detecting polygraph machine. Conceived as an out-of-the-box superhero, She triumphed over evil with feminine virtues of wisdom and compassion. "Sired" by an Amazonian queen, imbued with powers from the gods, this "She-ro" brought Greek mythology and feminist values to fight for peace, justice, and equality.

The only female comic book character with stories continuously published for the past seventy-five years, Wonder Woman's longevity is a testament to her global appeal as an icon of woman power. Generations of girls resonated with her message of empowerment to become fearless women.

Breaking Our Hearts for Humanity

"One of the most important things I’ve learned in my work is that you have to let your heart break. When you connect with people who are suffering, you have to force yourself not to turn away from their pain, but to share in it, and carry it with you, wherever you go. Because, in time, that pain hardens into strength, into conviction - and it motivates us to act. " ~ Melinda Gates

Philanthropists are lovers of humanity. In the practice of philanthropy, we are exposed to the brokenness in the world and are given the opportunity to repair what we can. We cannot heal everything but if we can transform one life, we can save the world.

Discovering what it is we want to repair is the starting point of the philanthropic quest. We lead with the heart and develop a mission and strategy around our passion to create the change we want to see.

Live Passionately!

31 million people between the ages of 44 to 70 feel unfulfilled in their chosen jobs, want an encore career, and seek something that provides greater meaning and impact.

“The Path to Purpose: How Young People Find Their Calling in Life” ~ William Damon

70 percent of all employees are dissatisfied with their jobs and actively disengaged in their work.

“The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters." ~ Emily Smith

Intentionality is a quality that keeps us focused on what matters most, requires being true to our self, and is deeply rooted in personal values and aspirations. It means paying attention to the meaning we give to our everyday life.

Image by Aaron Draper

Living an intrinsically meaningful life; knowing what issues we would die for, what passions we live for; how passion, aligned with purpose, creates a life of meaning - are not lessons we acquire in the early stages of our lifelong learning journey.

Simulation Training Program in Teaneck NJ

The Institute for Simulation Learning at Holy Name Medical Center offers an authentic, immersive environment for healthcare professionals to develop safe, innovative and compassionate approaches to patient care.

Russell Berrie Foundation Trustees & Holy Name Staff

Simulation learning is the process of recreating real life medical scenarios for training purposes - to increase patient safety and help save lives.

The Philippine People Power Revolution

On the anniversary of the peaceful revolution that toppled a dictator in the Philippines, I remember the passion and courage of my fellow Filipinos who stood together in front of military tanks and transformed their political reality.

"Revolutions are the periods of history when individuals count most." ~ Norman Mailer 

Catholic nuns from the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception help form the first line of defense against Marcos troops on EDSA Boulevard, two miles from the headquarters of anti-Marcos leaders. Religious leaders were a key part of the "People Power" revolt that brought down Marcos on February 24, 1986. (Photo: © Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley/Kim Komenich)

Revolutionary Road

Sometimes we must put our bodies where our beliefs are,
sometimes pressing 'send' is not enough . . . .
This is the upside of the downside. This is an outpouring
of democracy like I've never seen in my very long life.
~ Gloria Steinem

January 21, 2017 was a remarkable outpouring from women marching in solidarity all over the world. More than a peaceful democratic movement, this revolutionary spirit contains the potential to change the world.

Living an Inspired Life

The poet, Mary Oliver's instruction to "pay attention, this is our endless and proper work," has always inspired my mindfulness practice.

In the small moments that feed our soul, staying open, alert and attentive to the gifts of the present remind us why we are here - to live, to love, to learn.

Women and Power

Little girls are seldom encouraged to be strong, assertive, demanding or, God forbid, powerful. Growing up in the Philippines, studying in all-girls convent schools, the nuns did not exactly prepare us to take charge and lead. Marriage was our calling, and obedience was our virtue. Yet, those nuns led these convent girls to the front lines during the People Power Revolution that toppled a dictator.

How did we do it? Armed only with bibles, rosaries and faith, we held hands, knelt down and prayed. In that moment when we found ourselves in front of a tank, I realized that I had the power to change my fate. Overthrowing a dictator by peaceful, even prayerful means, gave me my first taste of power, the power to make a difference.

Aging Fearlessly

We are living in an aging world, with 40.3 million Americans 65 years or older, expected to increase to 89 million by 2050. Population aging is changing societies on a global level, causing a wave of change fueled by this Silver Generation. 

As more seniors lead active lives, our philosophy of aging gracefully has shifted. 

Keynote Speech at the #FWNSummit2016

Filipina Women's Network posted : 

Angelica Berrie (Global FWN100™ '14) delivered her leadership keynote at the launch of FWN's second book on Filipina women leadership, DISRUPT 2.0: Filipina Women: Daring to Lead at the University of Cebu in Banilad during the #FWNSummit2016 on Monday, August 22, 2016. 

"One of the biggest handicaps women face is not the glass ceiling imposed on us by others but the ceiling of self-limiting fears that hold us back from achieving our fullest potential. To be a woman who leads and who wants to be a leader today in a world filled with complexities requires fearlessness. Fearlessness is a state of mind to be cultivated by enlightened leaders so they can bridge differences within communities and around the world." - Angelica Berrie, 13th Filipina Leadership Global Summit Keynote, August 22, 2016, Cebu City, Philippines

The transcript of the full keynote speech can be read at : 

http://www.filipinasummit.org/blog/angelica-berrie-when-you-touch-your-soul-you-become-fearless

Filipina Leadership Global Summit 2016

It is an exhilarating experience to be invited as a keynote speaker at the 2016 Summit of the Filipina Women's Network. 

The Filipina Leadership Global Summit is exclusively designed for the Global FWN100™ Awardees—Filipina women leaders creating change in the world of Filipinas in diaspora.

Each year, the Filipina Women’s Network explores these questions when designing the Filipina Summit’s intensive learning experience. 

The summit brings together Filipina women leaders from a variety of industries and countries to think collaboratively about the future of our respective communities, work, and leadership. 

The sessions, action group discussions, and personal reflections to help gain insights about the future of leadership as a Filipina woman. 

8 Bridges Hudson River Swim 2016

The 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim was an epic open swimming odyssey to celebrate the mighty Hudson and the New York Harbor. 

It highlights health and environmental issues of the river to raise awareness for the work of NYOW, Riverkeeper, and Launch 5, all organizations concerned with making the entire length of the Hudson a clean, sustainable and safe environment for all. 

From my perch along the Hudson, I witnessed the inspiring feat of swimmers who started from the George Washington Bridge to the Verrazano Narrows Bridge - a 19 mile journey dedicated to highlighting environmental challenges along the mighty Hudson River.