Major Contribution
The Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales

Russ Berrie (1933-2002), the late founder and chief executive officer of Russ Berrie and Company, Inc., was passionate about the business of selling.

Berrie’s dream was to create an innovative, world-class educational institute dedicated to elevating and advancing the field of professional sales. 

Berrie fulfilled his vision, just weeks before his death, when he invested $6.2 million to establish the Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales at William Paterson University.

“This is one of the most exciting days of my life -- a dream come true," said Berrie at the ceremony announcing the Institute in 2002.  Berrie, who began his career as a salesperson, believed that sales is the driving force behind every successful business. "If you don’t have a person out there selling in a professional manner, you don’t have a business," he said.

Thanks to Russ Berrie and his wife, Angelica, the University established the Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales in the Christos M. Cotsakos College of Business.  The program, the first of its kind in the Northeast, offers both professional and academic programs for undergraduate students and sales professionals, including a bachelor’s degree program.