EXHIBIT 10.58


                                                                 August 14, 2000
Ms. Dona Fisher
5613 Eagle Point
El Paso, TX 79912

Dear Dona:

     I am pleased to offer you the position of Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer of Russ Berrie and Company, Inc. effective September 5, 2000.

     Your employment with the Company will include the following:

     1.   COMPENSATION. Your base salary will be at an annual rate of $250,000.
          You will be eligible for the Executive Incentive Program ("EIP") bonus
          program beginning with the year 2001 (generally paid in February of
          the following year). The EIP is equal to 50% of your base salary.
          Generally, the full 50% bonus vests over a period of three years. This
          three-year vesting period is waived for you. The bonus program is
          predicated on meeting the Company's minimum operating profit for the
          applicable year.

     2.   GROUP HEALTH AND DISABILITY. After 90 days of continuous employment,
          you will be eligible to participate in:

          a.   Our contributory Group Health Plan.

          b.   Our non-contributory Life Insurance Plan in the amount one times
               your base salary.

          c.   Our non-contributory Long Term Disability.

     3.   DENTAL. After twelve months of employment, you will be eligible to
          participate in our contributory Dental Insurance Plan.

     4.   STOCK OPTIONS. Stock options are granted to eligible employees at the
          beginning of each calendar year. You will be eligible to participate
          in the Company's

          Stock Option Plan based on its current provisions. You will receive
          stock options equal to 40% of your base salary. Under the provisions
          of the stock option plan, you must have 18 months of service prior to
          the first grant. However, this can be waived and, in your case, would
          be. Therefore, you will receive your first grant at the beginning of
          2001.

     5.   401(k). After six months of employment, you will be eligible to
          participate in the Company's 401(k) plan based on its current
          provisions. The Company's


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          contribution to your 401(k) account fully vests over a period of four
          years of employment.

     6.   VACATION. Between your date of hire and the end of the year 2000, you
          will be entitled to take 4 Fridays of vacation days - 1 in September,
          1 in October, 1 in November (the Friday after Thanksgiving Day) and 1
          in December (after December 18). In the year 2001, you will be
          eligible for three weeks vacation.

     7.   HOLIDAY/SICK. You will be eligible for paid holidays and sick time in
          accordance with Company policy.

     8.   COMPANY CAR. You will receive an allowance of up to $28,000 to
          purchase an automobile in the Company's name. This allowance is paid
          every three years toward an automobile. Certain expenses, such as
          gasoline, repairs and insurance, will be provided by the Company.

     9.   RELOCATION. The Company's relocation policy pays up to $27,500 of your
          documented relocation expenses. To the extent that you incur
          relocation expenses in excess of the $27,500 limit, the Company will
          advance to you, interest free, a loan against your EIP bonus to cover
          such additional expenses. In addition, the Company will pay the cost
          of moving your household goods (in accordance with policy).

     10.  REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS. The following departments will report to you:
          Finance, MIS/IT, Administration, Global Logistics, Internal Audit,
          Human Resources and Legal.

     The Company reserves the right to change or modify these programs. In
addition, employment with the Company is considered "at-will" and does not
represent a specific guarantee.

     Dona, I want to welcome you to Russ Berrie and Company, Inc. and wish you
much success in your new position.

                                Very truly yours,


                                /s/ Russ Berrie
                                ------------------------------
                                Russ Berrie
                                Chairman

cc:  B. Sottile
     E. Goldenberg



AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED BY:


/s/ Dona Fisher
-----------------------
(Dona Fisher)

August 18, 2000

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