Madison Rotary - NJ

The Madison Rotary Club recently recognized eight Madison High School rising seniors as winners of its annual Laws of Life Essay Contest. The program invites students to reflect on a personal maxim, or “Law of Life,” and describe how it has shaped their values, character, and decisions.

Honorable Mention awards were presented to Syed Anas, Gavin Dewar, Lorelei Kim, and Kate Scarpa. Second-place honors went to Ava Devorak and Justin Diaz. Top awards were presented to Justin Barnes for his essay based on the maxim “Sisters Come First” and Samia Javaherian for “The Beauty of Diversity.”

To say that our Rotary meeting last Thursday morning was special and inspirational would be an understatement. These young men and women demonstrated remarkable insight, character, and a commitment to values that will serve them well throughout their lives. Special thanks to Tanya, Ray, and their teams for their dedicated work in making this program a success.

Later that evening, Madison Rotary members had the honor of representing our club at Madison High School’s Senior Awards Night, where we recognized our scholarship recipients. Seeing so many outstanding students being celebrated reinforced our belief that the future is bright and full of promise.

Madison Rotary congratulates all of the Laws of Life Essay Contest winners and extends sincere appreciation to Madison High School English teacher Karen DeRosa for her support of the program.

Founded in 1987 by Sir John Templeton, the Laws of Life Essay Contest encourages young people to identify and write about the principles that guide their lives.

For information about joining the Madison Rotary Club or participating in club-sponsored community service events, visit: www.madisonrotarynj.org

Madison Rotary Club Awards Annual Scholarships to Outstanding Madison High School Students:

The Rotary Club of Madison is proud to announce the recipients of our 2026 Annual Scholarship Awards. These exceptional students have demonstrated a strong commitment to academic achievement, leadership, and most importantly, Rotary’s guiding principle of Service Above Self.

Congratulations to our scholarship recipients:

Benjamin Engel
Peter Munter
Liam Johansen
Rebecca Axler
AJ Eldridge
ME
Modi Shi
Dylan Hock
Alexandra Porio
Elizabeth Green
Luca Bambaci

This honor is both well-earned and well-deserved. Through their dedication to serving others in our local community and beyond, these students exemplify the values that Rotary strives to promote.

We commend each recipient for their accomplishments and their commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others. As they embark on the next chapter of their educational and personal journeys, we encourage them to continue seeking opportunities to serve, lead, and inspire.

On behalf of the Rotary Club of Madison, we wish these remarkable young men and women every success in the future. May you continue to find your path in making our world a better place for all.

Congratulations, Class of 2026 Scholarship Recipients!

Madison Rotary Serves Dinner at Homeless Solutions Shelter

On June 3, Madison Rotary members Bill Kennard, Ray DeRiggi, Linda Kemper, and Curt Beaudouin prepared and served dinner to 55 guests at the Homeless Solutions Main Shelter in Morristown.

The grateful guests enjoyed a hearty meal featuring burgers, fries, mixed vegetables, and chocolate and vanilla cake. A special thank-you goes to Steff Codey for providing the cakes that helped make the evening even more memorable.

Supporting our neighbors in need is an important part of Madison Rotary's commitment to community service. The club looks forward to returning to the shelter several more times throughout 2026 to prepare and serve meals for shelter guests.

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make this service project a success and for demonstrating Rotary’s motto of Service Above Self.

For additional information on community service and social events, please visit https://www.madisonrotarynj.org/

Madison Rotary Community Shredding Day a Great Success!

The Madison Rotary Club's semi-annual Community Shredding Day, held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, was a tremendous success! From 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, several hundred residents and local businesses visited the Madison Municipal Parking Lot at the corner of Prospect Street and Kings Road to safely dispose of sensitive documents and help protect themselves from identity theft.

This popular community event not only provided a valuable service to our neighbors but also helped support the Madison Rotary Club's ongoing efforts to give back to the community. All proceeds from the event will directly benefit the club's charitable initiatives and local service projects.

A special thank you goes out to Frank Magravite and the many dedicated Rotarians and volunteers whose hard work and planning made this event possible. Your commitment to service continues to make a positive impact throughout Madison and beyond.

Thank you to everyone who participated and supported this important fundraiser. We look forward to seeing you at our next Community Shredding Day!

What an incredible day for recycling, sustainability, and community service!

The Madison Rotary Club's Pedals for Progress / Sewing Peace collection on May 30 was our most successful drive of the spring, thanks to the tremendous support of our community. Together, we collected an amazing 82 bicycles and 25 sewing machines destined for a new life and a greater purpose.

In just a few weeks, these donations will be shipped to Belize, where they will help provide reliable transportation, economic opportunity, and valuable resources for individuals and families.

A huge thank you to everyone who donated, volunteered, and helped spread the word. Your generosity is creating opportunities and making a meaningful difference far beyond our local community.

Service Above Self in action! 🌎❤️

THIS SATURDAY MAY 30TH!!! Protect your identity and support a great local cause at the Madison Rotary Club Community Document Shredding Fundraiser!

On Saturday, May 30, 2026, residents and businesses are invited to safely dispose of sensitive documents — including tax returns, financial statements, medical records, and confidential files — with secure on-site shredding services.

📅 Date: Saturday, May 30, 2026
🕘 Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Location: Parking lot at the corner of Kings Rd & Maple Ave in Madison (entry via Maple Ave)

💵 Cost:
• $10 per box or grocery bag
• Cash, check, and credit cards accepted
• Larger containers priced accordingly

📄 Paper Only Please:
Remove binders and avoid bringing plastic, cardboard, electronics, or non-paper materials.

♻️ Bonus Recycling Opportunity:
A truck from Morris Habitat for Humanity ReStore will also be on-site accepting donations of new or gently used furniture, hardware, home improvement items, and building materials.

All proceeds benefit the Madison Rotary Club charitable programs, including local community service projects and youth initiatives.

For updates and additional information on this and other community projects, please visit:

https://madisonrotarynj.org/page/community-service

Kudos to our team for an impressive second-place finish at the Trivia Challenge this past Tuesday, 5/19, at Revolution! Great teamwork, quick thinking, and plenty of laughs all around. Most importantly… we beat Morristown! 🏆👏

🚲🧵 Donate Your Used Bikes & Sewing Machines for a Great Cause! 🌍

Pedals for Progress/Sewing Peace, in its continuing effort to recycle unwanted items properly, is having a used bike and sewing machine collection sponsored by the Madison Rotary Club.

Anyone with an adult or child’s bicycle in repairable condition is urged to donate their bike to this worthy cause. Please note: we do not accept “bikes for parts” or disassembled bikes. We also accept working portable sewing machines and sewing notions (no fabric, please).

📍 Drop-Off Location (Rain or Shine):
Madison Volunteer Ambulance Corps
29 Prospect St.
Madison, NJ 07940

📅 Date: Saturday, May 30, 2026
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Pedals for Progress/Sewing Peace collects 3,000 to 5,000 items annually and transfers this material wealth to those in greater need. To date, more than 170,000 bicycles and 6,300 sewing machines have been shipped to developing countries in Central America, Africa, and Eastern Europe.

In these countries, the bikes are reconditioned by partner agencies and distributed at low cost to those who need reliable transportation for work, school, and daily life.

A donation of $20 per item is requested to help offset overseas shipping costs.

Thank you for helping make a difference — one bike and one sewing machine at a time! 🌎

Please visit https://madisonrotarynj.org/ for additional on this and many other service projects and community events.

Protect your identity and support a great local cause at the Madison Rotary Club’s Community Document Shredding Fundraiser!

On Saturday, May 30, 2026, residents and businesses are invited to safely dispose of sensitive documents — including tax returns, financial statements, medical records, and confidential files — with secure on-site shredding services.

📅 Date: Saturday, May 30, 2026
🕘 Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Location: Parking lot at the corner of Kings Rd & Maple Ave in Madison (entry via Maple Ave)

💵 Cost:
• $10 per box or grocery bag
• Cash, check, and credit cards accepted
• Larger containers priced accordingly

📄 Paper Only Please:
Remove binders and avoid bringing plastic, cardboard, electronics, or non-paper materials.

♻️ Bonus Recycling Opportunity:
A truck from Morris Habitat for Humanity ReStore will also be on-site accepting donations of new or gently used furniture, hardware, home improvement items, and building materials.

All proceeds benefit Madison Rotary Club charitable programs, including local community service projects and youth initiatives.

For updates and additional information on this and other various community projects, please visit: https://www.madisonrotarynj.org/