Home Page | Rotary Club of Hillsborough

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

Fresh fruit for fall!

Our Rotary Club is happy to announce that we are participating in the Fresh fruit sale from the Pee Jay's Fresh Fruit team.

We are having our annual fruit sale and this year, we’ve taken our sale online! By purchasing some fresh, delicious fruit, you will aid us in raising money to fund many community service projects which the Rotary Club of Hillsborough support. The needs are much greater this year given the prolonged health pandemic. Please help us accomplish these goals. Just click on the image and choose the items you’d like to purchase.

You may also send fruit as a gift. Shipping charges are included in the price. All gift orders will be shipped the week of December 12.

The deadline for ordering fruit with a credit card online is November 20. The fruit will be tentatively delivered on or about December 17, with pick-up on December 18 between 8:30 am-12 pm at Central Jersey Nurseries at 18 Hamilton Road, Hillsborough. If you have any questions about any of the fruit items online or your options for pick-up or delivery of your fruit, please contact Jim Beattie at jrbeattie1@comcast.net.

Flags for Heroes 2022

Sponsor a flag for our Heroes.

Click on the donate now button below to sponsor a flag.

Keep an eye on our website regularly for more information.

2022 Rotary Fair Volunteer Appreciation Night

Pictured above, 2022 Hillsborough Rotary Club Fair volunteers pose with Club president Ashley Rose,(far left)

and Abed Medawar (center in sport coat) the Club member responsible for organizing the Fair operations.

At a special ceremony held Wednesday evening, September 21, The Rotary Club of Hillsborough recognized the contributions of dozens of community volunteers for their help running the 2022 Hillsborough Rotary Fair, the Club’s premier annual fundraiser.

“Running our Fair requires a small army of people performing a wide variety of tasks that begin well before the Fair opens and continues until days after the Fair closes.” commented Abed Medawar, member of the Rotary Club of Hillsborough charged with organizing the Fair operations. “Our entire membership alone isn’t enough to handle all the tasks required to host over 15,000 visitors during the five-day carnival. However, thanks to the many community volunteers who step up to help run game trailers, distribute water, clean the grounds and operate the dunk tank, for instance, our Fair was a great success.”

As always, the Fair featured classic thrill rides, food vendors, games of chance, an exposition of local businesses and a spectacular firework display by Interstate Fireworks and sponsored by Petrock’s Bar & Grille and Petrock’s Liquors.

“The strong spirit of volunteerism in the Hillsborough community is a true blessing,” added Rotary Club of Hillsborough President Ashley Rose. “So many individuals and groups step forward each year to offer their support. It transforms this fundraiser into an amazing community event.”

Community Groups That Volunteered This Year:

Pinnacle Health and Fitness
HHS Cheerleading
HHS Raider Strength and Conditioning Club
Operation Shoebox
HHS Girls Cross Country
HHS Robotics Club
Tia Higgins and friends
Project Graduation
Michael’s Miracles

Rotary Celebrates Community Support

PHOTO CAPTION: Members of the Rotary Club of Hillsborough and OAR join together to cut the ribbon for the Annual Family Fun Day

The 2022 annual Rotary Fair continued a very special Rotary tradition – a dedicated afternoon for special needs children and their families. The invitation-only event was held from 1 PM to 4 PM on Saturday, August 20th. The “Fun Day,” which included games, rides, and food, was free of charge to approximately 700 special needs children and their families.
A tradition since 2013, Family Fun Day is devoted to special needs families. The fair is closed to the general public in order to give the families all the space and time they need to enjoy the day at their own pace.
“As a Rotarian and Mayor of Hillsborough Township, it is our honor to be able to offer this event for our special needs community. Seeing all of their smiling faces and the enjoyment shared with their families is truly heartwarming,” commented Mayor Shawn Lipani.
“Ten years ago I approached the Rotary Club of Hillsborough about offering a day to local special needs families. As a long time Board Member of OAR (Organization for Autism Research)and special needs advocate, I thought, what beer way to offer an inclusive event for the community?” added Hillsborough Township Administrator and OAR NJ President, Anthony Ferrera.
“We receive some of the most touching thank-you leers from the families of special needs children who have aended the Fun Day,” commented Rotary Club of Hillsborough President, Ashley Rose. “The parents tell us that being able to have a fun

afternoon out with their special needs children and their siblings in an inclusive, non-judgmental environment is a rare and welcomed break from their routine.”
The Hillsborough Rotary Fair and Business Expo – the Club’s premier annual fundraiser - aracted over 15,000 community members from Hillsborough and surrounding towns, allowing the Club to raise the funds to support numerous local service organizations and projects throughout the year.
“Our continuing local support would not be possible without the generosity of our fellow community members. Not only do we rely on the funds that result from their aendance at the Fair, but their volunteerism enables us to run the Fair,” added President Rose. “As a result of that support, we had another record-breaking year!”
At this year’s Fair, the Rotary Club of Hillsborough introduced a brand-new feature – an interactive digital map. Developed and donated by Pinnacle Health and Fitness in Hillsborough specifically for use at the Fair, the interactive map enabled Fair aendees to load an app onto their smartphones by scanning a QR code posted around the fairgrounds. The digital map not only allowed guests to find the exact location of every ride, game, food vendor and Business Expo participant at the Fair, but also provided helpful information and promotional offers from Fair vendors and Business Expo participants.
As always, the Fair featured classic thrill rides, food vendors, games of chance, an exposition of local businesses and a spectacular firework display by Interstate Fireworks and sponsored by Petrock’s Bar & Grille and Petrock’s Liquors.

Pam Borek Award

The Rotary Club of Hillsborough Honors

Township Clerk Pam Borek

In a rare departure from tradition, The Rotary Club of Hillsborough recognized Township Clerk, Pam Borek, with its highest honor – The Paul Harris Fellowship Award – for her exemplary service to Hillsborough Township and to Rotary.

Established in 1957, and primarily used to honor Rotarians for exceptional service in pursuit of the Rotary ideal of ‘Service Above Self,’ it has, on rare occasions, been given to non-Rotarians who routinely go above and beyond in the exercise of their public responsibilities and in their support of Rotary.

“Our success as a community service organization not only depends upon the support of our community, but those in local government who partner with us on a wide array of initiatives,” commented Rotary Club of Hillsborough President, Ashley Rose. “No one could ask for a better partner than Pam Borek.”

Ms. Borek played a substantial role in such projects as “Flags for Heroes,” the initiative that honored our service men and women last Veteran’s Day by publicly displaying an American Flag with the veteran’s name affixed to the flagpole. The display, which was a joint imitative between the Township and the Rotary Club of Hillsborough, created a highly visible and touching field of 100 flags at the Municipal Complex. In addition, she helped the Rotary Club launch its Legacy Book Bin, where residents can donate used books to help raise funds for Rotary. Today, the project has expanded to two locations at the Municipal Complex and at the Iron Peak Sports Complex.

Paul Harris Fellowship Award

The Paul Harris Fellowship is named in honor of the organization’s founder, who created Rotary in 1905 in Chicago to bring together professionals with diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Over time, Rotary’s reach and vision gradually extended to humanitarian service. Members have a long track record of addressing challenges in their communities and around the world. The Paul Harris Fellowship Award was established by Rotary International in 1957, and has been awarded to Rotarians and non-Rotarians who have exemplified the Rotary ideal of “Service Above Self.”

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