Our History

A group of Carteret businessmen were attending a local testimonial dinner in June of 1963. During the dinner, the conversation led to an agreement to form the Rotary Club of Carteret. It was on this day that the Rotary Club of Carteret was born. The Rotary Club of Linden sponsored us to the Rotary International organization; Al Palermo was very instrumental in this process.

The Rotary Club of Carteret was chartered on June 12, 1963. The first president was E. Michael Donnelly. Mr. Donnelly was the president of the First National Bank in Carteret, now known as Bank of America. The Rotary Club of Carteret is now celebrating its 50th year. In its history, the club has donated countless hours in a variety of community and international service projects. The current twelve active members and three honorary are part of Rotary International, District 7510, and the Capital District of NJ. It covers the Central part of New Jersey and consists of forty-three (43) clubs and is divided into nine (9) areas. The Rotary Club of Carteret is in area four (4) and is conjoined with clubs from Metuchen, South River-East Brunswick, South Amboy-Sayreville and Edison.

Community/ Youth Service

  • The major mission of the club is Community Service. To this purpose the club provides several scholarships for students of Carteret, who will go on to college. From its inception to date it has given over eighty-one
    (81) scholarships.
  • Sponsor a student for Boys State
  • Sponsor the Annual Bicycle Classic
  • Donate stuffed animals to the Carteret Fire. EMS &First Aid Squad Dept
  • Donate Dictionary/thesaurus to the third graders within the community
  • Awarded a prize for the 1991 CHS Art Contest to design the Rotary of
    Carteret banner
  • Sponsored an Interact Club at CHS
  • Provided CPR lessons for high school students
  • Provided checker-board table for the Waterfront project
  • Received an award for excellence – “Driven to Read” campaign
  • Spearheaded the erection of the Scoreboard for the 1990 CHS Championship Baseball Team
  • Participated in Fire Department’s Disaster Drill
  • Participated in Ethnic Day Activities
  • Donate to the Divine Mercy’s Gift Auction
  • Donated to various organizations, etc.
  • Donated Defibrillators to Carteret Police Department

Service to those in need

  • Holiday Gift Certificates to the needy, elderly & handicapped
  • Sponsor the Labor Day Picnic/Pool Party for the Specials
  • Support the Carteret Disability Day
  • Donated to the Mayors Children Charity Fund
  • Donated to the Children’s Miracle Network/Children’s Specialized Hospital
  • Participated in Carteret’s Crop Walk

Fund Raisers

  • Annual Breakfast Buffet
  • Sale of Entertainment Books
  • Annual Bicycle Classic
  • Go for the Gold
  • Cash for Gold Sale
  • Collected coins at TP
  • Sold Roses at ShopRite
  • 50/50 raffles

Rotary International
Rotary is not just a local community or local community service, it is an organization of Business and Professional Leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and promote international understanding and good will. In order to be recognized a viable club it is incumbent upon clubs to participate in international projects. The Rotary Club of Carteret is such a club, in the past we have taken part in the following:

  • Support RI’s Polio Eradication
  • Homes for Hope in Ecuador
  • Save a Life in Thailand
  • Pure Water Project provided five (5) water filters
  • Participle in the “Gift of Life” program
  • Supported the victims of hurricane Andrew that devastated Florida
  • Shipped 4200 volumes of books to Karalier, Hungary
  • Shipped clothing to Bosnia & Sarajevo during their time of need
  • Donations to Rotary International for Paul Harris
  • Fellowships to twenty-one (22) individuals
  • Donated to the Rose Bowl Parade

Women in Rotary
Women were welcomed into Rotary in 1987, Carteret club invited their first women in 1988, at which time Gerry Hayko & Mary Pusillo attended their first meeting. Mary went on to be the first Woman President.

Our Motto is SERVICE ABOVE SELF, as The Rotary Club of Carteret continues on, we are looking for a few good members; we would welcome you with open arms.