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President's Message

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Hillsborough website!

On these pages you’ll learn about how our club fulfills our mission of service above self while enjoying the fellowship of a diverse group of men and women who come together to make a positive and lasting impact in our community and the world. Our Club meets at 6:15 PM at The Landing restaurant (311 Amwell Rd, Hillsborough) on the first and third Wednesdays of the month to share a meal and friendship, plan service projects and hear interesting speakers. For those who cannot attend in-person, we also Zoom our meetings.

We welcome new members who share our commitment to our community and wish to participate in local service projects, as well as fun social events. If you are interested in joining us, or simply learning more about our club, please contact us by email at Rotaryclubhboro@gmail.com, and we will respond by phone or email. Additionally, you can learn more about the worldwide reach of Rotary at www.Rotary.org. Please call ahead of the meeting to confirm your visit with us.

Thank you for visiting our website. We look forward to seeing you at the Rotary.

Ashley Rose

President

The Rotary Club of Hillsborough

Service Above Self

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Rotary Honors Military Heroes at Memorial Day Parade and Service

Thunderstorms and torrential rain took a welcomed break just long enough for the Township Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony to come off without a hitch on Saturday. Pictured above in front of the wheelchair accessible van donated by The Rotary Club of Hillsborough, President Ben Rozenblat is joined my members of the Club who marched in the parade. Also pictured above, President Ben presents a check for $2,000 to Mayor Shawn Lipani, also a proud Rotarian, for the Township’s Veterans Fund.

Rotary Club of Hillsborough Does YMCA Camp Service Project and Presents Check

Pictured YMCA staffers: Ben Green, Sarah Graham, Gaby Lazarte, Colin Hook, Avery Whittney and Rotarians: Fred Gladstone, Shangar Nandra, Ben Rozenblat, Katie Hardgrove, Kalyan Kalidindi, James Machut, Tricia Marciano

The Rotary Club of Hillsborough participated in a service project the YMCA of Hillsborough. Club Members joined YMCA as we prepared the camp grounds, including spreading mountains of mulch. The club also presented a $2000 check in support of the Rise Up Program by the YMCA which will provide tutoring in reading and math for 60 children this summer. The club hopes to make this an annual event.

Local Business Owner Shares about Ukraine Humanitarian Aid

Pictured Rotary Club President Benjamin Rozenblat and Orest Levytskyy, Owner of Cafe Brio

The Rotary Club of Hillsborough was please to welcome Orest Levytskyy, Owner of Cafe Brio to our club meeting on May 18th. Mr. Levytskyy spoke about his humanitarian aid to Ukraine, how the community has stepped up and the need for ongoing donations including:

Non-perishable food (canned meat, dairy products with long shelf life, protein bars, baby food, dried fruits, and nuts)
Hygiene products (shampoo, body wash, soap, feminine products, detergent, children's hygiene products, diapers, bug spray/cream, sunscreen)
Medical products (antibiotics, blood pressure medicine, herbal sedatives, cold/flu medicine, first-aid kits, burn kits, butterfly strips, gauze pads, elastic bandages; Syringes with needles, IV catheters, CPR masks, CAT tourniquets, chest seal)
Pet food
Metal detectors
Firefighting protection gear
Power generators, battery power banks

For more information please go to https://www.cafebrionj.com/ukraine

Rotary Welcomes New Member

Pictured above (Left to Right): Rotarian Tricia Marciano poses with newly inducted Rotarian Susan Woods and President Benjamin Rozenblat

On Wednesday May 18th Susan Woods was inducted into the Rotary by club President Benjamin Rosenblat at The Landing.

Does the motto "service above self" resonate with you?

Do you value giving back to the community in which you work or live?

Are you interested in international goodwill?

Looking to make some friends while making a meaningful and positive impact in the lives of others?

We'd love to connect with you about potentially joining the club

Submit your inquiry here and we will be in touch!

https://forms.gle/qYZUKARMFFt8pWri8

Rotary Welcomes Two New Members

Pictured above (Left to Right): Rotarian Tricia Marciano poses with newly inducted Rotarians Katie Hardgrove and Shangar Nandra along with President Benjamin Rozenblat

On Wednesday May 4th, 2022 while at a club meeting hosted at Flounder Brewing in Hillsborough two new members were inducted into the Rotary Club of Hillsborough by President Benjamin Rozenblat. Welcome Rotarians Katie Hardgrove and Shangar Nandra!

Does the motto "service above self" resonate with you?

Do you value giving back to the community in which you work or live?

Are you interested in international goodwill?

Looking to make some friends while making a meaningful and positive impact in the lives of others?

We'd love to connect with you about potentially joining the club

Submit your inquiry here and we will be in touch!

https://forms.gle/qYZUKARMFFt8pWri8

Nine-Year-Old Finds National Following for Her Ukraine Fundraising

Above: Rotarian Tricia Marciano (left) poses with nine-year-old Sofia Murtazin (right) and her original artwork, which she sells to raise funds for Ukraine.

The Rotary Club of Hillsborough members listened in awe as Hillsborough resident, nine-year-old Sofia Murtazin, shared her inspiring story of raising funds for the victims of the invasion of Ukraine. With her mother Marta by her side, Sofia spoke at a Rotary Club event held at Flounder’s Brewery Wednesday evening.

Sofia, who attends third grade at Hillsborough Elementary School, sprang into action the day after the invasion and began painting signs to raise money to purchase needed supplies for the people of Ukraine. Both of Sophia’s parents were born in Ukraine and have many family members and friends who continue to live under constant threat from Russia’s invasion. With her mother’s help with a social media campaign, Sofia’s efforts have gone viral and have touched the hearts of supporters across the nation.

“Sofia’s compassion and dedication are just so inspiring,” commented Rotary Club of Hillsborough member, Tricia Marciano, who invited her to speak at the Club’s Wednesday meeting. “It was an easy decision for our Club to donate money and invite her to speak to us. I can’t imagine a better example of the Rotary motto in action – Service Above Self.” To date, Sofia has raised over $11,000, which enabled her to purchase medical supplies and toiletries, and send them to Ukraine.

Jeremy Lees, Flounder’s owner, who also has family ties to Ukraine, not only hosted the Rotary event, but joined in the presentation sharing information about his own on-going efforts in support of Ukraine, including a $3,000 donation to Sofia.

Those interested in supporting Sofi’s efforts with monetary or in-kind donations can contact her at martuneya@yahoo.com or by calling (908) 294-0755

Community Donates Over 20 Tons of Books in
Support of Rotary Club of Hillsborough Foundation

Gregg Wilke (left), Rotarian and managing partner of Iron Peak Sports and Events, and Ben Rozenblat (right), president of the Rotary Club of Hillsborough, show off the Club’s second Legacy Book Bin location in the parking lot of Iron Peak Sports and Events. The other bin location is in the parking lot adjacent to the Hillsborough Municipal Building.

One year after launching the New Legacy Book Donation Program in Hillsborough, over 20 tons of books have been collected at two Township locations raising nearly $2,000 for the Rotary Club of Hillsborough Foundation.

Donated books are either resold through on-line shopping sites like Amazon, or if deemed unsalable, recycled. New Legacy Books, the non-profit organization that manages the operation, returns a percentage of the proceeds to The Rotary Club of Hillsborough Foundation each month.

“In addition to our various hands-on volunteer efforts, our Club raises thousands of dollars each year that allow us to provide needed philanthropic support,” commented Ben Rozenblat, president of the Rotary Club of Hillsborough. “With the generous support of Hillsborough community members, we have been able to fund a wide variety of organizations and charitable causes including post-secondary school scholarships for Hillsborough residents, essential goods for homeless veterans and veterans serving abroad, relief to victims of natural disasters, and, most recently, support for the families fleeing the invasion of Ukraine.”

The New Legacy Book Bins are located at the Township Municipal Building parking lot adjacent to soccer fields and at Iron Peak Sports and Events at 137 Mountain View Road in Hillsborough.

“New Legacy Books would like to thank the Rotary Club of Hillsborough for hosting and promoting our book bin fundraiser, which has been a great success in our first year in Hillsborough,” noted Matt Laiacona, from the New Legacy Books operation. “We also thank our fellow book readers in Hillsborough who support the fundraiser with ongoing book donations. We look forward to many years of fundraising for the Rotary Club and working with the Hillsborough community.”